I have cancer?! How do I tell others? Help me, God. What’s next?

Life is short or long; nobody knows.

 

Physicians and Ministers are intersecting occupations which I honor and respect; they’re arts of science and spirit.

Dr. Merle Hodges, Sr. delivered my precious baby boy several years ago. Two years later, his son Dr. Merle (Boo) Hodges, Jr. delivered my beautiful baby girl. This very important man in my life, last month, diagnosed me with Grade 1 Endometrial Cancer. I am thankful, not that I wanted cancer—it was tough news for him to deliver, but for his knowledge of it and his advice which led to life-saving action.

It’s difficult to tell people you have cancer. Suddenly, there’s this sense of sadness as we realize how short life can be; how much we love and will miss each other someday. We connect on a new emotional level. We humbly wonder what the future holds. It’s out of our hands. We pray.

Within two days of my cancer diagnosis, I met my new gynecologic oncologist Dr. Jed Delmore and he performed a robotic hysterectomy that same week. To God be the glory for skilled physicians and medical teams as well as for modern technology of the healthcare industry in Salina and Wichita, Kansas!

Through the process I saw God’s hand in everything. 

My pastor came to Wesley Medical Center to pray with me and sit by my husband on the day of my surgery. I imagine that God wanted many other people to see a man wearing clerical collar in the hospital, too. My fellow church members prayed for me in a phone-prayer-chain and also in regular worship services. Awesome is the blessing of having family and friends near me who share the faith! I was encouraged with hugs, kind words, cards, Facebook messages, calls and personal visits.

Surgery removed all of the known cancer!

No cancer was found in the other “extra parts” and fluids removed during surgery to be tested. It had only been in the endometria which they’d already determined from the initial D&C/hysterscopy. I was happy to get a call from nurse Lindsay with news that pathology testing reported that it was stage 1A, an early diagnosis.

During my 3-week follow-up the doctor mentioned that Grade-1, Stage-1A was the best possible outcome and, statistically, my chances for this cancer to return somewhere else are 3 to 5% for the first two years after surgery. If I pass two years in good health, the prognosis is lowered; it becomes only one-half of a percent. Well, that allows for some optimism!

Thankfully, I am in recovery mode now and won’t need further treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy. I know how difficult this is by remembrance of my husband’s journey with esophageal cancer.

I pray, God-willing, frequent follow-up check-ups during the next couple years will have good results and I may live a long life. I thank the Lord for spiritual care my Minister offers each week in his sermons and worship services that include The Lord’s Supper; plus, the privilege to pray and be in His Word everyday.

Yet, even if long life is not to be, I have comfort for whenever the Last Day arrives.

I know God is always by my side and has gone before me. Our Father in Heaven loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to live as God-Man with us. In His birth, perfect life, suffering, death, burial, descent to hell, bodily resurrection, and ascension, Jesus claimed victory over death for everyone! He hears believers repentant prayers, forgives sins, crushes boastful pride, encourages/teaches humility/love; and, finally, He awards heaven as the prize for all who receive the one true faith which the Spirit freely offers (in baptism and the Word). Through Christ, believers trust the promise we will live forever in Paradise when death takes our earthly body.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. Mark 13:31-33 ESV

God provides food, drink, work skills and everything to enjoy life.

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ESV

A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. Proverbs 15:13

Today in my quest for making good use of my time and finding enjoyment, I discovered a tutorial How to Prepare an Old Book for Altering or Art Journaling on Pinterest. Experimenting in creating art journals has been on my bucket list. God has blessed me with a creative spirit. I hope to use this gift more often for enjoyment to the glory of God.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 ESV

My body was designed with the miraculous ability to become pregnant and give birth. I am Pro-Life; I do not support Pro-Choice-to-End-Life by abortion or human euthanasia.

I praise the Lord for creating me with a healthy uterus to protect and nurture my unborn children during those months of my youth. I thank Him for blessing me with a faithful daughter and a theologically-devoted son who takes time to read and talk with me and others about God’s Word. Just yesterday we discussed Colossians 3.

and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” Matthew 21:16 ESV

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3 ESV

Life is full of wonderful surprises and it also jolts us with shocking challenges we must be prepared to face. 

Like a cancer diagnosis which leads to death, ever since the fall of Adam and Eve, we’ve been diagnosed with sin which leads to death. Physical symptoms warn us to take medical actions; similarly, the Ten Commandments act like a mirror to help us see our sin. Symptoms of cancer don’t just fade away. Sin doesn’t go away in God’s eyes unless faith washes them away, whiter than snow, by Jesus blood (Psalm 51). This faith points us to want to follow God’s instructions for living and loving in this life He’s given us. Surgery may remove cancer, temporarily saving life on this earth; but, for sure, Jesus saves believers who inherit eternity in Heaven with Him. This is far better than to reject the gift of faith, leading to everlasting-punishment-without-God which is Hell!

I pray that you seek to read/hear His Word (the Bible) and receive the Spirit’s help so you, also, are confident that nothing will be able to separate you from His love. If you live near me and don’t go to church, please, will you join me at mine (Faith Lutheran Church)? If you live in another area, here’s a link to help you find one that shares my faith. I want you to be blessed by Christian fellowship and grow strong in the gift of faith in Christ which promises peace that passes human understanding.

Do you have questions? Comments? Please post them below. I review them and it may take up to a day for them to show publicly, so please check back. I will do my best to respond as soon as possible.

What are you thankful for? For me, an awareness of blessings, contentment and growth by facing cancer with my husband.

Inspired by an Etsy team discussion, “…What are you thankful for?”, I respond:

Attaining 2,629 sales by this point in November 2014 is certainly a significant reason to be thankful that I’ve become a seller with Etsy. “Help” sections along with a willingness to learn and try new things made this possible for me. Encouragement from other sellers makes it enjoyable. Other reasons I am thankful are:

• Being born into a loving family where creativity, design and entrepreneurship were valued and encouraged by example and opportunities.
• Involvement with community “families” and teams throughout life such as 4-H, high school dance-line, church youth group, technical design college, adult art classes, Lutheran Women in Mission and book club.
• Living in and near the country with places to explore nature, swim, bike and hike.
• Being married to my best friend, a creative, hard-working guy with a good eye for vintage has influenced FreshRetroGallery. My mother-in-law inspired me to design a family tree chart. At the time, it was purely so we could chart our own ancestors—little did I know that many others were searching for an attractive, practical way to record this precious information on a printed piece that serves as a keepsake of handwriting. I am delighted that people love to give these as gifts.
• Having a son and daughter on the bottom line of my genealogy diagram. Becoming a mother made my dreams come true. Their father and I are honored to be on the next line and it was fun to fill in the poster with their grandparents and up to 3x great-grandparents. Having a grateful heart is just one of the wonderful character traits that have been passed through the six generations that my family tree chart holds.

The rest of this post touches on the journey my husband and I are taking after his diagnosis of lower esophageal cancer. Looking at the big picture, I find blessings related to even this terrible disease and its treatment.

Interactive display at the Mayo Clinic Rochester Museum

Attributes of staff and doctors at the Mayo Clinic

Tears of Cancer

Crying feels cleansing to me. It’s a way to release emotions such as stress, sadness, grief, anxiety, loneliness and frustration. I’ve read that it is healthy to cry to avoid being set up for depression. When I learned the shocking diagnosis of cancer, I was struck with the reality of human mortality—the disease’s connection to a possibility of death. Over the first couple weeks after absorbing the news, my sad, tired, worried eyes were frequently rinsed with tears.

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Psalm 56:8 ESV

On our quest to find zucchini bread, Stan’s miracle food, we walked to a bakery in Rochester and happened to see an unusual sign.

Cancer brings out the best in family, friends and acquaintances. 

Blessings of shoulders to lean on, ears to listen, kind words, hugs, cards, visits, phone calls, posts, “likes”, emails, gifts, offers to help, knowledge/experiences to share, prayers and encouragement surrounded us. We made our connection to a specific surgeon at Mayo Clinic through a friend of a friend who shared his own positive experience there just one year ago. While carrying out Stan’s treatment plan, we made new friends with special people dealing with similar cancer who could totally understand and relate to our situation. We were drawn to closer relationships through the necessity of sharing the diagnosis and news of Stan’s cancer treatment plan. This life-changing event brought our family together. It gave us opportunities to befriend others.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34 ESV

Lynne, Liz and Kaye regularly attended the Desk R waiting room while husbands Red, Stan and Alvin “caught some rays” to fight esophageal cancer at Mayo Clinic. Six weeks later, here we are connecting at Saint Mary’s Hospital, Mayo, after two of our men went through a super-major surgery. God bless you, friends—together we shared ice cream on the Mayo patio, hot dogs and live music in the street, sentiments, laughter and wife-experiences of suffering with the men we love.

Christian faith holds me together while facing cancer with my husband. 

As I put it in my Heavenly Father’s hands, trusting that His will be done, my prayers are for courage, grace, wisdom in making health care decisions, physician and medical team’s skill, mercy for a cure, full recovery, patience, comfort, rest and healing. I have hope in the inevitable death Stan and I will face some day and comfort in the loss of loved ones who’ve gone before us.

How do Christians face death? Christians face death as they face life—with their eyes fixed firmly on Jesus. We cling to the promises of His Word, which, when facing death, seem even more wonderful and powerful. One of the most beautiful promises our Lord gave to us is found in John 14:2–3 where He says, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” We realize that no matter how our lives may end, there is one thing of which we can be absolutely certain. We shall pass from death to life, from this life to the life beyond, with our Lord. And there we shall rejoin all of our loved ones and others who have gone before us trusting in Christ their Savior. (excerpt from pdf file): Read more on Death and Dying - The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

Other Blessings

• Generosity, thoughtfulness and prayers of many people.
• Insurance coverage to care for Stan.
• Doctors and medical staff at Comcare, Mowery Clinic and Salina Regional Health Center in Kansas.
• Teamwork and personal attention of doctors and medical staff at the departments of nutrition, imaging, chemotherapy, radiation oncology, anesthesiology and chest (thoracic) surgery for an esophagectomy at Mayo Clinic and the caring community in Rochester, Minnesota. 
• Sandra J. Schulze American Cancer Society Hope Lodge—Rochester, MN — a wonderful home-away-from-home for cancer treatment patients and their caregivers.

On the first trip to Mayo Clinic, our daughter Laura gets fresh air and exercise with me while her dad rests. She spent a few days with us before traveling to Milbank, South Dakota to spend time with grandparents and relatives in western Minnesota. The fountain is in Central Park near Mayo’s extended downtown campus which is comprised of about 30 buildings and 5 parking ramps.

We stayed 2 weeks at the Brentwood Inn before a room became available for us at Hope Lodge where we made several new friends and learned a card game called “Golf”. (camera credit: Vicki Peterson)

We met Jim and Betty at Hope Lodge. In the middle of our process, they visited us one evening as they were traveling from Worthington, MN to the State Park in the hill country of Texas where this photo of them was taken. We spent 6 weeks at home in Kansas between the 7-week stay in Minnesota for tests/radiation/chemo and the 2-week stay back there again for tests/surgery/hospitalization. Thanks to all visitors and everyone’s kindness and support during this journey.

During our second trip, our son Nathan reads a Christian devotion or blog to his dad waiting in the Hilton Building for a test to help the doctor determine that Stan could have surgery. Upon Stan’s discharge after surgery we were told that he might start feeling better in 3 to 6 months. Prayers ascend for Stan and all the wonderful people we met on our cancer journey. Praise be to God for His mercy and loving care.

Despite the awful nature of sharing Stan’s struggle with cancer—body failing and difficulties related to eating, drinking, radiation, chemotherapy, major surgery and recovery—I learn to submit rather than resist. I live with new understanding of the present, moment by moment. I focus on health, emotion, thought, imagination, creativity and living. I get in touch with my soul. I thank my Creator for gifts of medicine and healing. Through His gift of the Holy Spirit, I receive faith by hearing the Word preached in church. I have forgiveness of sins by Jesus’s suffering, death and resurrection. I trust what is true and pure.

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:23

If your life is touched by cancer, may you be blessed with these words. I encourage you with some of my favorite Bible verses:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. Philippians 4:4-14