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 22 years. We are doing our best to raise our 4 boys, who are all growing up way too fast.
Trey,
Great news. So glad the tests were negative for cancer.
Cannot imagine how terrifying this must have been. So thankful for the results. And thank you for reminding us how precious life is. Now go out and CELEBRATE! And then tell us all about it.
Praise God! We need you around for a few more years!
Good news indeed! Enjoy every day!
Great news!
Trey you are an inspiration to us all! Keep pressing on!
Trey, so glad that you are still cancer free!
My husband just finished going radiation. I know how this affects the family. My husband is also a Church of Christ minister.
One of the blessings I’ve witnessed through all of this is how others grow by watching your faith. People are looking to see how you will handle the battle and and when you continue to fight the good fight, they know that they can as well.
I held my breath as I read your post, and with great relief exhaled and thanked HIM for you!
Jeremiah 29:11 came to mind,
“For I know the plans I have for you Trey, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.”
Keep running the race dear brother for someday we will meet you at the finish line to collect our crowns!
Trey, CONGRATULATIONS on being cancer-free! Praise the Lord.
What an encouragement and blessing this post is to me. I had a physical last week, and because I have heart disease in my family, my dr. ordered an ekg, which I scoffed at. “I’m 39 years old and haven’t had so much as indigestion,” I told her.
She sent me to a cardiologist this week, becuz the ekg she showed in her office showed the signs that I had already had a heart attack, which again I laughed at.
As I wait for the results of my stress test and echocardiogram from yesterday, I stll believe that all is well and healthy with my heart…but in those quiet moments, the hidden places in my mind that only God sees, another story is going on, and He is ministering to me through it. I’m learning things that I know I wouldn’t have learned without this “scare.”
So, I’ll keep waiting, but as I do, I celebrate the message you delivered here. We must treat every day as if it could be our last, not out of fear, but out of gratitude. I want His life to be reflected in me by well-chosen words and spirit-filled actions.
Wonderful news bro. You’re a warrior. God bless!
So glad everything came back good. Thank God for viral infections instead of cancer. : )
dwanreed – I prayed for your husband and for you too. Lea, my wife, knows how tough it can be to be in your roll as the care giver.
Hang in there.
Maria – Thank you for the encouragement.
LauraLee – Hang in there. I prayed for you during these anxious times. I know how you feel.
Praise God!
Glad it turned out well for you brother!
i hope you had a different kind of celebration this year, or your regular celebration just a few days delayed? Can we just borrow YOUR scare for a jolt back into reality? I’d prefer not to go through my own. I’m thankful that God has given you continued life and you’re making the most of every opportunity by sharing your faith with others.
Oh Trey, I know you and Lea were terrified. You both are such a blessing to us all and even in your time of trial you came through for everyone else!!
About the time of your CT scan someone asked me to pray for you and believe me Lonnie and I both did.
We were experiencing a scare of our own with Garrett at that time and still not sure what is going on with him. He has narrowing of the veins in his left wrist. We spent the night in the Amarillo ER (suggested by the same awesome Dr. you have) and came home with no more information than when we left Childress. We have a cardiologist appointment on June 1 so maybe she will have some answers.
It is remarkable how God allows us to be put on our knees so we can be lifted up by Him.
Love you and thank the Lord for great news!
Praise the Lord. He is keeping you here for a reason.
Say a prayer for me. I go back to Odessa in a couple of weeks to have the nevus on my retina checked. If there are any changes I will be making a trip to Philly to see a specialist.
I actually am praying that it disappears.
Glenna
I’m thanking God with you!
Praise God!
sssoooooo glad your tests were all clear!!!
you’re right about getting caught up in day-to-day stuff and losing our grasp on what is really important
I am so glad that your tests came back clean. Waiting between when they do the test and when you get the results is always the hardest part.
Not that the barium is a walk in the park, from what Dad used to say.
Anyway, glad you are OK. You should celebrate TWICE.
Praise God for the good news and the second chances…
Thanks be to God brother. The 1st 2/3 of your post had me scared. I was relieved. I can only imagine what you guys felt. Thanks for the sobering message too.
Timbra … I agree, don’t go get your own scare … just borrow mine
Kim – Thanks for letting me know about Garrett. We’ll pray.
Glenna – You are way to young to be having things like that happen. Now get out there and buy some more shoes!
Hang in there … maybe we can pray it’s a viral infection. 
Brie- Barium if from the Devil.
Like Maria, I sat breathless while I read this post. My relief was a welcomed joy.
My dear next door neighbor Connie, a 60 something, a long time smoker, just received her bad news last Monday. Everyone, please say a prayer for Connie, her husband Mike, and all of us who love her.
Praise God you are cancer free bro’
Royce
That’s really great news. Thank you for sharing the encouragement with us! I cannot begin to imagine how scary it must have been, but your positive response and faith are very uplifting!
I’m thankful to find out that you are still doing well!
WOW! praise God for the good report
brian
blogprophet.wordpress.com
I’m very thankful you remain cancer free and I understand how having to possible face going through it again made you reflect on your life.
We lost a dear friend Sunday afternoon and it was completely unexpected. I have been reflecting a lot since then.
Another friend sent the following link to me over the weekend and it is a very good ‘listen’ from a man who has cancer. If you have time to listen to it I think you will be encouraged.
God bless~
A Privilege to Suffer for Him
http://listen.family.org/daily/A000001976.cfm?utm_id=emailafriend&utm_campaign=1
Wonderful news! So glad it worked out this way for you. What a relief!
Thanks for sharing. None of us know the number of days we have left. We do take it for granted that we will always have tomorrow.
May God continue to use you and bless you.
Royce … I prayed.
Janice … thank you for the link. I’ll check it out.
uhmm even just the thought of it scares me. Praise the lord for this testimony. I pray that you won’t have it again in Jesus name!
Praise be to the Lord that there is no cancer. Trust you will return to complete health following the bout with the virus. I’m glad with you and your dear wife.
I’ve been told twice that I may have cancer. Thankfully, both times it turned out the doctor’s guess was wrong. Just thinking you might have it is bad enough. To have had it and then think it’s come back a third time …. I don’t want to go there. But I’m so grateful for the results on your test.
Yes, you still need to have a celebration day; even if it is late. (umm the yes is in reference to my sister’s comment; incase you couldn’t put that together on your own). Sorry you had a scare, but glad to know you got the green light.
Well now, that’s a good thing, a real good thing.
Praise God, Trey.
I agree with Maria … I, too, held my breath reading your entire post.
Praise God! And as Haley said, still celebrate! This is great news!
God bless you. Keep on serving Him as you have been doing – He is still in control, even when we can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Glad for you and Lea and the boys that you have another day together – one day at a time. You are a very real inspiration to me.
Trey… thank you for sharing your life with so many. Your honesty and transparency are refreshing and such a blessing to my life and ministry…
Miss you bro and I thank God that you’re cancer free!
Praying for you and your family…
I was almost crying as I started reading this article.
Then I started almost crying with joy!
Praise God that it’s not cancer.
Thank you for sharing and for what you have taught us through this.
I’m so happy to read this news. When I saw the word Cancer, My heart skipped a beat, with absolute fear. You are a blessing to mme and I know many, many more than me. You make me want to be a better person, and I certainly don’t want lose that.
Trey,
After reading this post a couple of days ago, I listened to a presentation by a woman who is dying of cancer. I think the web site is deathisnotdying.com. (If that is not correct, go to my blog to find the link.) I thought that you may be interested in her message, too. I was encouraged to make my life count more for Christ after hearing it (just like I am often encouraged by your blog).
Praise the Lord. I am so thankful for you.
Terry – Thanks for the link … i’ll check it out this afternoon.
I am so thankful. I am raising my hands in thankfulness to our mighty God. (Seriously, I am! In my office and I just don’t care who sees me.) For whatever reason I am just now reading this today (Friday).
You are so right, sometimes we do need a jolt to remind us who is in control.
We love you and Lea and are are so thankful for the good news from the doctors.
Pat and Kim
Like others I held my breath until I got to the end. So glad that GOD spared your life.
I so understand that man. SO MUCH. 10 years and 8 years respectively. Praying you never again have to hold your breath like that again.
Wow, Trey-I am a bit behind from this week, so am just now reading this, and will say…Praise the Lord!! I, too was reading with bated breath, and am so thankful to hear the good news. I am sure that was a scary time, and thank you for sharing your experience and imparting the wisdom you learned with us.
You are such a tremendous blessing, Trey, and I am SO thankful that God is keeping you around-for He is most definitely not finished with you yet!! He is working through you in mighty and powerful ways-and it is truly evident to anyone who knows you personally or simply online. You are an encouragement and uplifter of our souls and spirits!
May we all remember that every moment of our life is a God-given gift and not to take any of it for granted. Thanks for the reminder! I love you, brother
i’m so glad that everything is great!!! I know that we could handle it – with prayer!