Carmen's Story - Breast Cancer Survivor
From the Journal of Carmen
MY MIRACLE — TURNING MY CANCER INTO JOY.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.”
Life is full of uncertainties. One minute you can be very healthy and the next minute very sick. That is what happened to me. But with God, there are no uncertainties — all His words and promises are true. When you are a child of God you can face anything that comes your way because you know that God will be fighting the battle for you. In Christ Jesus, we are more than conquerors and nothing is impossible with Him if we just trust Him in everything.
My faith in God was tested when I was diagnosed with breast cancer (September 27, 2002). I’ve been a Christian for a long time. As a child of God, I’ve had ups and downs in my Christian walk — experiencing trials and disappointments, victories and challenges. I’ve experienced blessings and answered prayers that I have shared with only my relatives and close friends because I was too bashful to share it with others. Yet, I believe God allows things to happen in our lives for a purpose. I never thought that my affliction with cancer would turn out to be the turning point to glorifying Jesus in my life. Through this battle with cancer, God gave me boldness and courage to share my faith and my convictions regarding Jesus Christ.
When I first felt the lump in my left breast, I knew I had need for prayer. Every time we had our Lifegroup meeting, be it Thursdays or Saturdays, they prayed for me. They always asked the Lord for the mass to be benign and that I would not need surgery. But in my heart, I knew better. “God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. So shall God’s word that goeth forth out of his mouth not return unto Him void, but it shall accomplish that which he plans and it shall prosper in this thing whereunto He sent it.”(Isaiah 55:8, 11) When I was alone with God in my quiet time, I prayed for strength, courage and peace in my heart to accept wholeheartedly whatever this turned out to be — even cancer. This was my prayer — not knowing that God was already preparing me for a storm that was coming in my life.
To many women, breast cancer is their worst nightmare — the most devastating news that could break. It could send them into depression because of the change in their body image. It could even mean a death sentence for them if it has already spread to their vital organs. It was yet uncertain what I would face.
I had my left breast partial mastectomy on September 18 (2002) and the whole lump was sent for biopsy. I finally got the pathology report on September 27. It was an invasive carcinoma Stage II, with extensive lymphatic/vascular invasion. I was not even surprised or shocked upon hearing the news. I calmly accepted it and asked the doctor about his treatment plan. Then I went back to work and told my boss about the results. She was more emotional than I was and hugged me saying, “I’m so sorry.” I am an R.N. and we had a lot of cases that day. While I was at the doctor’s office, the level of circulating responsibility of my job was left to just one R.N. I was so concerned about this that my boss had to practically drag me to her office to give me time to relax. She kept asking me how I was doing. She did not believe that I was fine and thought that I was still in denial. My reaction became an open door to tell her that God is in control of my life, and that I knew that my faith in the Lord Jesus would carry me through.
The news about my breast cancer spread quickly in the nursing office that day. Everyone who saw me felt so sorry to hear about it. But for me it became an opportunity to share my faith in the Lord Jesus! Instead of them comforting me, I was comforting them!
Next I was concerned about how my sister would take the news of my cancer. She had already had other shocking, devastating news. My mother had just passed away and my sister had other family problems to deal with, so I was reluctant to tell her. My friend convinced me that my sister had the right to know, and that I should not keep if from her. Consequently, I called my sister and told her that I had breast cancer. She did not take it very well; she cried over the phone as though I was already dying. I told her to calm down and reassured her that I was okay — that my condition and my life were in God’s hand. If He desired to take my life back, there was nothing I could do. I assured her that my hope was in God alone. I said, “I am His child — He promised He will never leave me nor forsake me.”
I also called my close friends and relatives from other states. They were all very supportive and they promised to pray for me. They could not believe how I sounded for someone who had cancer because I sounded so happy!
I had my second surgery on October 16 — Modified Radical Mastectomy with lymphnode dissection. I stayed overnight at the
The following Sunday (October 27) I went to church and told the congregation that I believed God had already healed me. I went to see my surgeon on October28th and he had good news for me. The pathology report came back and all ten lymph node samplings, as well as the rest of the breast tissue, were negative. I had received my miracle!
I saw my oncologist on November 1. She rejoiced with me about the pathology report. I still had to undergo chemotherapy because the cancer was seen in the lymphatic ducts when the surgeon removed the lump. The doctor also told me that chemo would decrease by 15% the chance of a recurrence. After consultation with the doctor and talking with a friend who was married to an oncologist, I heeded their advice and agreed that chemo was the best option. God saw me through it all.
How I thank all my family and friends for the prayers and support. God is truly faithful. If we trust Him, He will make a difficult situation to be a blessing so He can be glorified in our lives.
Prologue: It has been six years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I am doing quite well!
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