Cancer is one of those things you never dream will happen to you and only understand what it is when it hits you. However, my experience had two positives that came along with it: God showed me His great love. Because of this, my life perspective and priorities changed. At 29 years old, my life was normal and I was excited about the doors God was opening for me. I was strong and happy; a mother dedicated to raising my daughter and being a very committed professional.
When I First Heard I Had Cancer
The first phase of my breast cancer journey started in December 2012. I felt all my energy pulled away from me when I heard the words, “You have cancer.” I will never forget the picture of my three-year-old daughter looking at me as tears rolled down my cheeks. But that gave me the strength I needed to fight.Like most mothers in my situation, a slew of questions came to mind.
Will I live to see my daughter grow up?
Will I attend her graduation, her wedding?
Who will give her the motherly advice that every daughter needs?
After some discussion with doctors and family, a course of action was chosen: I chose to undergo a bilateral mastectomy surgery.
God’s Promises
The morning of my surgery, I read a verse that said: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today” (Exodus 14:13). At that moment I knew that was the answer to my prayers. With peace in my heart, I was certain of victory.After surgery, my doctor assured me that all the cancer was removed, and no additional treatment was needed. I was happy and thankful. From that moment on, I did not think about the possibility of having cancer again. From a medical perspective, the only thing required of me was to check in with my doctor every six months.
And Then It Happened Again
During a routine visit in September 2014, the doctor said it would be a good time to have an MRI done. I was fine with the request; after all, it was just another routine exam.Now, I am not the type of person to postpone things but for some reason I decided to postpone my exam. The chain of events that followed led to me being six months late in completing the MRI exam.
When I finally received my results, I noticed something was wrong. The results sheet noted an area of concern that required further evaluation. History seemed to be repeating itself. There I was again, with my daughter looking at me and with all the pain I had felt from a couple years before. I met with my doctor the next morning to create a plan of action.
The next two weeks involved a mammogram, two ultrasounds, two biopsies, two MRI exams, a PETSCAN, and surgery.
Physically and emotionally, this time around was much harder for me. The results of my biopsy were not good, and the cancer was very aggressive. Moreover, no one knew how extensive it was. At that moment, I understood why others have lost this fight shortly after receiving this sad notice.
“God, allow me to raise my daughter,” I prayed. “And let my experience be used to glorify You.” The next day I cried in my father’s arms with no energy left, asking God again for a chance to live. Suddenly my phone started ringing. When I answered, my doctor said my exams results were very positive. My cancer, as aggressive as it was, hadn’t spread yet. It was unbelievable. I proceeded with surgery and for the second time every bit of cancerous tissue was removed.
"We are limited in our outlook. Our minds and experiences are finite. But God knows allowing suffering can bring something good for us. He knows how to use discipline so that we benefit. Every sorrow, every hurt, every tear shed, one day you will know why and will not have doubts that God uses the best means possible to draw your attention with a sole purpose: to get you to His side, to the entire eternity. And in that day you will thank God for the trials that He allowed to come to your life.” – Pastor Kleber de Oliveira Gonçalves
God Saved Me Twice
A couple of times after my surgery, my doctor asked why I had postponed my MRI. My answer was that I did not know. She replied, “If you had done it when we requested we probably would not have been able to see the cancer recurrence. By the time you would have been eligible to repeat the MRI, it would have been too late.” I looked at her and said, “That was my God, taking care of me.”My second time as a breast cancer survivor has been harder than the first. I have just finished chemotherapy and radiation, but as I look at my experience, I have learned we never know how strong we are until being strong is the only option we have. Then we realize strength does not come from us; it comes from our powerful God.
