A close friend of mine, R.A., was diagnosed with breast cancer ( unilateral or involving one breast) 21 years ago and is still alive. The wife of one of my classmates in high school (L.F.), was also diagnosed with breast cancer, but died months after the diagnosis was made. R.A. regarded cancer as a word, so she sought help and submitted to further tests to confirm the diagnosis which led to surgery (mastectomy or removal of the breast) and treatment (radiation and chemotherapy). She also made some changes in her lifestyle including her diet which led to her being cured of cancer. On the other hand, L.F., interpreted cancer as a sentence, hence, she did not submit herself to treatment and just waited for the end to come. The interpretation of the word cancer by these two persons affected their survival. R.A. believed that she would get well or was filled with hope and beat cancer. While L.F. was filled with despair and lost hope. She eventually died.
My sister, Dedita, who is still fighting cancer was also filled with sadness, despair, and felt hopeless upon knowing that she had lung cancer. However, we, the members of her family did not allow her to lose hope. Those of us in the Philippines kept in close contact with our relatives who are directly taking care of her in the U.S. A., via skype. We learned that she had radiation after the diagnosis, and that this will be followed by chemotherapy after a series of other tests would be done. Her bedroom was also converted into a hospital room and a white board in the dining area was used to record the medicines, laboratory results, doctor’s appointments and other treatments. Her daughter (an engineer) and a niece (who is also a nurse), took care of her during the early part of her illness.
Time was of the essence, so the treatment for my sister was started immediately. R.A. and Annette Bloch in a book, Cancer… there’s hope (2004 p.130) claim “that the theory of prompt, proper and thorough treatment with a positive mental attitude is vital in a cancer patient’s recovery. They further assert that it takes six factors to recover from cancer: first is the finest possible medical treatment; second is the finest possible medical treatment; third, fourth and fifth are the finest possible medical treatment and sixth is a positive mental attitude. Without all six, the cancer patient will not make it.” So the doctor’s plan for my sister was implemented immediately, and we motivated her to remain hopeful that she will be healed. Two posters were hang in her room and the bathroom (which were signed by her) had these words of affirmation: “I am healed. Thank you Lord for healing me.” My brother, Leopoldo and me talked to her everyday about examples of the healing ministry and miracles performed by Jesus Christ in the Bible. We also sang hymns like “It Is No Secret What God Can Do,” “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” “Trust and Obey,” and many others. We encouraged her not to give up the fight to beat cancer. When she slept, soft music and hymns and praises were played in her Ipad. Praying for her recovery without ceasing was done by us in America as well as our other relatives, her friends and colleagues, fellow alumni in the Philippines and other parts of the world. We used some verses in the Scripture like: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you,” (1 Thess. 5:16-18) to remind her of God’s grace and this verse set the tone each day: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 188:24). Michael S. Barry in The Art of Caregiving (2007 p. 16) says: “Why should we rejoice today? Because no one knows how long we are going to live. Today is the only day we only know we have, so why not live joyfully?”
Next Week: Family, Friends, and Support Group: “I Am Truly Blessed.”
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Author’s email: nenita.tayko@foundationU.com
