THE DIAGNOSIS

“You have breast cancer,” the surgeon said, “and because of your family history, I recommend a double-mastectomy.” She showed me photos of the procedure while explaining her credentials. “It’s imperative that we get this done right away.”

I was still processing the “You have cancer,” statement so the photos became a blur. Long story–I persuaded her to do a lumpectomy.

“If you’ll follow-up with radiation, I will permit this,” she said, escorting me to the front desk.

“You’re in luck!” the receptionist said, “I just had a cancellation. We can schedule your surgery next week. Please sign here…”

I felt like I had been thrown under the wheel of a Mack Truck on nitrous. If this was “luck,” I didn’t want it.

As I drove home, I thought of the consequences of having cancer. How could my teenage children thrive with a sick mother? If I died, would my husband be able to manage? How would my husband take this? Insecurities mounted. I sobbed so much I thought I was going to have to pull the car over.

When my husband learned of the diagnosis, he assured me that we’d battle whatever obstacles we needed to overcome together, and with the Lord’s help, we’d see victory. He also told me that no matter what I faced, or if I ended up having a mastectomy, he’d love me, “I married you, not your body. I love you.”

THE WAIT

As the days ticked down to the surgery date, I felt like I was sitting beneath a New Year’s Eve countdown ball that would crush me when it fell. I just didn’t feel right about rushing into surgery. I called the surgeon’s office and spoke with the receptionist.

“Yes, ma’am, I do understand how ‘lucky’ I was to get an appointment so soon, but…”

“The surgeon said this is urgent. Do you understand that?”

“Let’s set the surgery date to four weeks from today. Yes, I do understand this is urgent but I’m not ready.”

“I have an appointment available three weeks from now.”

“I need four weeks to pray. I can’t have the surgery sooner. I’m sorry, but I just can’t.”

“I’ve got you scheduled for four weeks, although you’re risking your life, you know.”

“Thank you for your time…”

Buzzz…

MY DAUGHTER’S PRAYER

The date of the surgery invaded my thoughts at all times like a foe that shadowed my faith. One morning, these fears invaded my thoughts as I dressed for the day. I slumped onto the bathroom floor and wept.

Rap! Rap!

“Mom! What’s for breakfaaa…” It was my daughter, Danielle, “Mom! Are you alright?” She was seeing me at my lowest point. I had not wanted to involve her because I did not want her to worry. She sat on the bathroom floor with me and wiped my tears. “I think we should pray that Jesus does on the biopsy material, the healing that is going to happen in your body. That way, they will see you are getting better as the slides clear up, and you won’t have to do the surgery. Does that sound good?”

“It does.”

“Let’s pray, Mommy…”

Lord Jesus, my fifteen-year-old just called me, “Mommy.” She has what I need—faith. I choose to trust You for my miracle this very moment.

My daughter did not grovel for words as she trusted Jesus to fix me. She asked Him to change the slides step-by-step until I was perfectly healed. I clung to every word of her prayer. She prayed it with childlike faith, and I knew God would answer.

That was the last time I cried.

I rose and fought with the Word of God.

SECOND OPINION

My husband thought it was best we get a second opinion so I made an appointment. The hospital kept calling to reschedule. I was puzzled, but gave it no serious thought.

WAGING WAR

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. ~John 10:10 KJV

Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins. ~Song  7:3 KJV  

Every time I prayed, my conviction that I could defeat this diagnosis by the Word of God, strengthened. I have had surgeries before, and feel God uses surgeons, medicines, and other methods to heal, but this time it just didn’t feel like the right thing to do. I clung to Jesus’ Word, and read certain Scriptures, applying them as if they were medicine.

My go-to Scriptures were John 10:10 and Song of Solomon 7:3.

John 10:10gave me the confidence to dare to defeat cancer. The enemy had indeed come to steal, kill and destroy me. However, Jesus had come to give me LIFE, in full measure, abundantly. By clinging to my Jesus’ once nail-scarred, now beryl-set hands I knew I would defeat cancer. He would restore every cell satan had tried to destroy.

I also prayed Song of Solomon 7:3, reminding Jesus that I had “twin breasts” that were supple and whole.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

A friend offered to pray with me. Every time she would pray, my feet felt like they were on fire. One time, my feet felt so hot I didn’t think I’d be able to continue praying with her. I asked Jesus why He was touching my feet when we were praying for my breasts to be healed.

In my spirit, I heard the word, testimony, over and over. I concluded this test would become a testimony of Jesus’ miracle-working grace.

From that moment on, I began to praise my Lord Jesus that I was already healed. I was at peace.

NO SURGERY NEEDED

As the surgery date came, I felt ready even to face surgery. I didn’t think the surgeon would find anything, but if Jesus wanted me to go through surgery to prove I was healed, I was okay with it. I went to the hospital for pre-surgery check-in and filled out the necessary paperwork.

I said to my husband, “Do you think we should cancel my appointment with the second hospital? After all, I am getting surgery in the morning.”

“Let’s just go learn what they have to share.”

Hand-in-hand, we waited in the examining room of the second hospital. It felt odd to have gone to two hospitals in one day.

A tall physician who was renown for her skill in doing breast cancer surgeries came into the examining room. “I have the great honor of reporting to you that you do not have breast cancer. I apologize for cancelling your appointments several times but we wanted to triple-check the accuracy of our tests and that took a while.”

“Waa… I don’t have cancer?”

“That’s correct.”

“How do you know?”

“We sent for the slides and biopsy material from the first hospital. Because our results differed, we called in the head of the department here. He saw no cancer on the slides either, but to be sure, we made our own slides. Our conclusion is that there are no cancer cells in your body. On our slides, and on the slides from the first hospital, cancer is not present. Therefore, our team has reached the unanimous conclusion that you do not have breast cancer.”

My husband tried to high-five me. I declined.

“I thought you’d be glad.”

Because I was not convinced, the surgeon called in a lab technician and I questioned him, “I need to know how you are absolutely positive you see no cancer cells.”

“Ma’am, if the cancer, called DCIS, is present, it accepts dye. Our slides are clean. They did not accept the dye. Furthermore, for the slides we received from the first hospital, no dye is present. We conclude therefore that there is no cancer in your breasts.”

I finally high-fived my husband, “It’s what our daughter prayed for. God answered our little girl’s prayer.”

My husband kissed my head. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am.”

A TENSE MEETING

We gathered every document this second hospital could release—all evidence that there was no cancer present—and rushed to the surgeon’s office from the first hospital. It was closing time, but they agreed to keep the office open for us.

The staff met us with ugly stares and grunts.

They were working late because their star patient was canceling, A.G.A.I.N… They must have thought I was the queen of denial.

I grabbed my husband’s hand and squeezed, quietly saying, “We’re fixing to have a fight here, because I’m not having surgery. Jesus healed me.”

“Agreed.”

After an icy silence—except for papers shuffling as the staff tidied their already clean office–the nurse called me into the examining room.

My husband and I rose.

We waited, and waited, and w. a. i .t .e. d….

“I CAN’T DO SURGERY”

Finally, the surgeon entered, already talking, “I can’t do surgery. I have to admit, I thought you were delusional to cancel at the last minute like this and I was going to give you a bill for wasting my time. But I am looking at proof that you don’t have cancer and I don’t understand. I saw the cancer on the slides with my own eyes. I check these things out, you know. But this report clearly documents that cancer is not there. Cancer that was confirmed as present at this hospital has vanished. Things like this just don’t happen…I don’t understand. My whole team examined the slides and our unanimous conclusion was that you had cancer.”

“Thank you.”

“I can’t operate on you because I have nothing to operate on! I would like to offer an explanation, but I only have questions.”

“I do understand. We prayed, and prayer changes things.”

“I hear that all the time. Nothing ever happens.”

“You can see what He did for me.”

“I’d like to send your slides and biopsy material to a third hospital. They will know what they are doing, and they can get to the bottom of this.”

“Sure. Send the slides.”

“I’ll send them right away.”

“Ma’am, my Jesus will confirm this healing. When the slides get to the third hospital, the slides will have improved again. Let me tell you about my daughter’s prayer…”

The surgeon shook her head. She was no longer listening.

We went home rejoicing. The Word of God, my daughter’s faith, and the lady who interceded so effectively that my feet felt like fire were the tools Jesus used to help me overcome cancer.

God’s Word is remarkable. Healing testimonies are recorded all through the Gospels showing that Jesus is Healer. The fact is, He still heals today. I’m proof.

SLIDES CONFIRM A PROGRESSIVE MIRACLE

Weeks later, I was on the porch reading my Bible when I received a call from the surgeon from the first hospital.

“How versed are you at your diagnosis?” she asked.

“If you’re asking if you can get technical, feel free.”

“Okay, here’s what we know. The slides from the first hospital showed you had DCIS, LCIS, and columnar spirilos. We were going to operate because the DCIS was very developed, and the cancer cells were obvious. However, the slides from the second hospital showed you had LCIS and columnar spirilosis but no DCIS. I just spoke with the third hospital, and only the columnar spirilosis is present. What puzzles me is that they did not make new slides. They are only looking at the slides from the first two hospitals. What this means is that your diagnosis has improved a third time. The same slides that first showed DCIS, LCIS, and columnar spirilosis, then showed only LCIS and columnar spirilosis, now show only columnar spirilosis. The first two hospitals both agreed LCIS was present, but this third hospital is not seeing it. Again, I have no explanation…”

“May I have a moment of your time, because I do have an explanation.”

“You may.”

“All of you did a fine job and nobody made a mistake. The reason my diagnosis has progressively gotten better has to do with my belief in Doctor Jesus. My daughter prayed that Jesus would take away the cancer step-by-measurable-step, and this is exactly how He’s answered.”

This time, the surgeon listened intently, asked questions, and considered my explanation.

Let’s review this so you can see the progression of my healing:

1. The first hospital confirmed the presence of DCIS, LCIS, columnar spirilosis.
2. The second hospital confirmed the presence of LCIS, columnar spirilosis, but the absence of DCIS.
3. The third hospital confirmed the presence of columnar spirilosis, but the absence of DCIS and LCIS.

.

But it gets better…More proof confirms my miracle.

X-RAYS CONFIRM THE MIRACLE

A few years later, I was having severe breast pain. On the recommendation of my PCP, I scheduled a mammogram and I met with the radiologist.

The radiologist slid an X-ray onto the light wall.

“Ahh!” I exclaimed with a gasp. I felt defeated. I could clearly see the DCIS, LCIS and columnar spirilosis. I knew what it looked like because the radiologist had showed me these cells when I was initially diagnosed.

“It’s okay” the radiologist said patting my arm, “Look at the date. This X-ray was taken in 2003 when you were first diagnosed.”

I tried to calm the chill bumps on my neck.

He slid another X-ray onto the light wall. “This,” he said, smiling from ear-to-ear, “is today’s X-ray. Notice there is less columnar spirilosis, and no DCIS or LCIS.”

“Then explain the pain. I feel like a knife is in my breast.”

“The pain you’ve been feeling is most likely due to the titanium surgery marker I inserted into your breast when I did the biopsy procedure.”

I looked closely at the x-rays. This tiny marker was present in both X-rays. I was fascinated to see the marker as I had been unaware of its existence. Since I had not gone through with the surgery, it remained.

“Why does my miracle puzzle the medical staff? Most don’t believe I’m healed, and some even act hostile to me.”

“It’s because this usually doesn’t happen even when people tell us they’re going to pray. However, I have seen this type of miracle before. Years ago, a patient of mine who also was a praying believer, was healed. In that lady’s case, and in yours, there is no explanation except that Jesus healed. You have indeed received a miracle.”

Some friends had told me I had just been misdiagnosed. I was looking at the before/after x-rays that proved cancer had been there, but it had disappeared. God had once again proved my miracle. Both the slides from the three hospitals, and these x-rays, all pointed out the progressive miracle. Cancer had been defeated by Doctor Jesus. He had answered a teenager’s prayer of faith, and the prayers of an intercessor-friend.

I returned home, rejoicing.

DNA MIRACLE

Years later, in 2012, after having considerable pain once again, my PCP referred me to a surgeon, suspecting cancer had returned.

The surgeon said there was an 80% chance the cancer had returned, or, more likely had never been properly diagnosed. He asked me to submit to DNA test for BRAC 1 &2, and an ultrasound.

I agreed, not at all convinced cancer had returned, but because of the intense pain I was experiencing I followed through with the recommended diagnostics.

Once again we prayed. My husband and I asked Jesus to take cancer and all of its indicators out of my DNA. This prayer was more for our daughter, son, and future grandchildren than it was for me. I didn’t want them to struggle with genetic disposition for breast cancer.

I am glad to say, all the tests confirmed that I have no genetic markers to predispose me to cancer even at the DNA level!

The pain, once again, was due to the surgical marker moving about in my breast, so I adjusted the types of undergarments I wear to accommodate the marker’s propensity to pinch and stab me when I move about.

I BEAT CANCER BECAUSE OF MY JESUS’ NAIL PIERCED, BERYL SET HANDS

I have been cancer-free for over twenty years since the initial diagnosis. Every mammogram I’ve had since the first one shows very little columnar spirilosis and no DCIS nor LCIS.

Cancer is a defeated foe! I am healed! I will continue to be healed because my Jesus will keep me cancer-free!

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO BE HEALED

Perhaps you’re reading this because you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or another ailment. Regardless of what type of ailment you have, ask Jesus to heal you. Please know it’s okay to have surgical procedures, or to take medicines or other types of treatments. Follow how Jesus leads you. The path He leads you may differ from how He healed me.

Find Scriptures from the Bible that will encourage you. The Gospels are a great place to start because they record many miracles Jesus did. Hold these truths close to your heart and believe Jesus, the Great Physician, can heal you as well. God is waiting to help you have faith in Jesus’ healing power. Although there were a few instances in the Bible where a person was not healed, and we cannot always know the reasons there, most of the time healings and miracles happened as the norm rather than the exception. Thus, if this is what the Bible teaches as the natural course of life, we can expect miracles to happen for us too, as our normal expectation.

Here are three Scriptures you can start with:

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. ~Hebrews 13:8 KJV

For I am the LORD that healeth thee. ~Exodus 15:26 KJV

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. ~Psalm 103:2-5 KJV 

I’ve included a prayer you might want to say and believe:

I also suggest that you work with your doctors! They are not your enemies! Had there been no proof that I did not need surgery, I would have gone through with it. Jesus always confirms His miracles, so make sure you are under the care of a medical team. Together, with the Word of God, praying friends who believe in Jesus as the Great Physician, and your medical team, you can set the right treatment path for yourself.

Shalom,

Diane Virginia

Founder/Director

VineWords: Devotions and More

 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2018: When Cancer Strikes: Diane Virginia: All Rights Reserved