I’ve had cancer, twice. Two weeks ago on May 6th, I was to celebrate my 6 year cancer anniversary. Just like every May 6th, I had a day of celebration all lined out. My post for my blog was all lined out and ready to go for the day as I was going to celebrate my victory over the disease.
Well the celebration didn’t happen this year. Turns out that two days earlier I had my yearly physical and one of my tests came back bad. My wonderful doctor stopped by my house to break the news to me in person. He told me my liver profile test had some problems, and because of my past history with cancer, he was scheduling a CT scan of my liver and abdomen early the next morning. When I asked him what we were looking for with this CT scan, he told me cancer. Instead of celebrating my cancer anniversary the next day, I was going to be drinking some God-forsaken barium and taking a CT scan. Twice before when they thought it might be cancer, it was. Why should this time be any different.
After talking to Lea, we chose not to tell the boys or others until we knew for sure. I did ask a couple of friends to pray about it for me. I then spent the rest of Tuesday evening and most of the day Wednesday thinking about my life and the possibilities of another battle with cancer. I began refocusing on what’s important in my life. All the old feelings, emotions and fears that cancer brings into your life came rushing back into my world. If you’ve ever heard the words, “You have cancer,” then you understand what I’m talking about.
Wednesday afternoon my doctor came back over to let me know that the CT scan had come back all clear. There was no cancer. No doubt, I was relieved. After another test and some more blood work the final conclusion was I simply had had a viral infection. I understood that being a two-time cancer survivor, they had to be aggressive in testing.
The whole ordeal gave me a great opportunity to re-prioritize what was important in life. I confessed to God that there had been some areas in my life that weren’t what they needed to be. Sometimes we just get so caught up on unimportant things in this life that we let the really important things go undone. Honestly, it’s good to be jolted back into reality just enough to help you refocus your priorities.
I would never wish cancer on anyone, but a scare every now and then might do us all some good. It did me.
I am a Christian husband and father, who moonlights as the minister for the church of Christ in Childress, Texas. My wife Lea and I have been married for 21 years. We are doing our best to raise our 4 boys, who are all growing up way too fast.
Kim, MsViv, Ronni, Kat, Leatherman’s – Thank you guys for your comment and for your well wishes.
God bless you Trey! and your family. You are truly blessed and it shows in your blog too.
I too, had one week to wait for the results on what they thought was Melanoma. I cannot explain what took place in my life that week, actually, it was significant to the turning around of my college-kid sinful lifestyle.
During that week, I found myself recalling those childhood prayers, and I prayed. A lot.
I do not believe that God sends bad things, but I think He will allow them. And I'm so thankful that He did. I wouldn't be half the person I am today, if He hadn't.
It is special this morning, for me to ponder on that week a few years ago. And to remember the priorities of my life.
Oh, and the test came back negative.
Marty … Any thing that moves us closer to God (cancer included) can't be all bad. I'm glad things came back negative for you. I know exactly how you felt.
Many blessings…
Marty … Any thing that moves us closer to God (cancer included) can't be all bad. I'm glad things came back negative for you. I know exactly how you felt.
Many blessings…