Anyone else accused of lack of faith for fighting cancer?

Kimberly Lewis · 11-19-2006, 05:59 AM

I love my family and my life but once this disease is beyond reasonable treatment I will go happily to a Father who loves me, without fear or doubt that I will be turned away. It is that simple faith that sustains me and holds me through my darker moods, and helps me to know that suffering is a part of life that teaches us things we would never know in the superficial plane we normally exist in. I appreciate the prayers I receive and believe that they do me good. I am having the most positive attitude that I can - but closing my eyes and folding my hands is not the only thing I can do. The apostle Paul said - let him who will not work - not eat as well... (2Thess. 3:10) we are expected as far as I understand it - to work. Positive results from positive action - mixed with faith and hope and Love. This is the scripture in a nutshell to me right now.

VirginiaGirl · 11-19-2006, 06:32 AM

Dear Kim, Your reply was right on the nose! I'm sorry you had to deal with that. After my initial diagnosis I was asked if I was ready to meet my maker, it stunned me, though I know there was no malicious intent there. I also know that I'm more inclined lately to over-react to things because my head is not where everyone else's is a lot of the time. So, consider the person's intent, and don't let it get you down! Information is power.

If there's anything that cancer has taught me it is the truth of the expression "God helps those who help themselves." I quickly realized that God would take care of me according to his plan, but he wasn't going to pick up the phone and argue with the insurance company - that part was my job. It is overwhelming the amount of time it takes to research all the info, just reading all the info in these forums can be overwhelming! Thank God, too, there are those of you out there who are able to sort through it and share it with the rest of us! If this disease finally does get me, I want to be able to tell myself and my family that I did do absolutely everything I could, at least the second time around!
Peace

Becky · 11-19-2006, 08:24 AM

God bless you Kimberly. You have said many things that hit the nail on the head, over and over again. I have tears in my eyes over it. Your quote from Paul was excellent. I had forgotten about it and Paul in general (who is the most realistic apostle). I will have to read him. He is very "get up and get out there".

Many of my friends also say " its gone and you're cured". Well, we all sure hope so and "statistically" many of us are but you have to live it to understand and and today, I sure do understand everything you have said.

Take care dear friend and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

CLTann · 11-19-2006, 10:37 AM

You are right on the bull's eye in correcting others' remark about putting yourself in His hand. If there is even a trace of validity of relying only on one's faith, there is no need for medical profession at all. It is too simplistic to say that God will take care of everything. Snap back at those who made these remarks, asking whether they ever needed any medication at all. I knew some sect of religious fanatic refuses to accept any medical treatment. I watch the woman died so unnecessarily from an illness easily curable by modern medicine. The world is full of lunatics whom we should carefully stay away.

Ann

karenann · 11-19-2006, 10:49 AM

God bless you Kimberly. I think your reply is perfect.

My experience has been that people who have not walked in our shoes don't understand. A lot of people in my life think now that my treatment is over, I should just go forward and I am, with caution. When they ask how I am doing, I say fine, because that is what they want to hear.

I am still involved with several of the women from my support group and they always want to hear how I am doing. We share our fears and talk about the aches and pains we have. Somehow, eventhough we don't see each other as often as we would like, this connection really helps.

I would recommend this type of group to any cancer survivor.

I hope you and all of the women on this board have a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving.

Hugs,

Karen

Cathy1 · 11-19-2006, 12:01 PM

Hi Kimberly

"Work as if everything depended on you and pray as if everything depended on God." Never mind what anyone says. You only have to answer to the one Just Judge and He loves you as if you were the only one. God Bless, Cathy1

Sandy H · 11-19-2006, 01:23 PM

You are so right in saying they don't understand because they have not walked in our shoes. After almost 6 years of being in and out of treatment I am still asked when I am going back to work! They tell me I look great. They don't understand the chemo brain, fatique, sleepless nights, all the appointments we sat around for, the phone calls to straighten out the errors of billing, trying to eat healthy and not on the run, drink lots of fluids causing us to go to the bathroom more frequently and on and on it goes. Enough said, Kim you said it well, keep the faith and keep moving on. You have God's leading and will do well. Have a blessed, happy Thanksgiving. hugs, Sandy

Bev · 11-19-2006, 07:15 PM

Hope things look better tomorrow. I haven't had the lack of faith reply but the good attitude reply. I do have a good attitude but I don't think that my Her-2 proteins really care or are affected by my attitude.

I think the oncs expect us to be happy because statistically our chances are somewhat small to get brain mets, although 3X higher than other BC I think, still small. It's less likely for you to have brain mets than not. Of course most of us had tiny odds of getting BC in the first place. So the oncs do have the right perspective which is easier to have when you don't have BC.

Do the counselling. If it doesn't help maybe the meds will. I think some psych problems are chemically based and counselling your seratonin uptake won't work.

All of us have these kind of days. You will have really good days again. Bev