How did I Get Cancer?

April 29, 2009

My cousin also had breast cancer in her mid-forties. (I am 47 yrs old) She told me a story of her Oncologist asking her how she thought she got the cancer. She gave him several ideas of things that may have caused it, including some negative circumstances in her life. His response was "Nope, some people just get breast cancer, you did not cause this" (OK, that's a total paraphrase but you get the idea).

If someone were to ask me how I thought I got cancer, how would I answer? OK, this I know. GOD DID NOT GIVE ME CANCER. Cancer cells are cells in the body which are not doing their job. They are duplicating very quickly and if left uncontrolled will likely take over. Your breast, your organs, your blood stream, your bones, your life. Fighting cancer is ridding your body of the existing cancer and taking measures to make sure that it does not come back, either in your breast or anywhere else in your body. At least that is how I understand it.

When I say "God gave me a pink tile for my mosaic", I do not mean He gave me cancer. Cancer is just a result of something going wrong in my body. The pink tile represents the whole cancer package. Early detection, fighting it, learning from it, growing in faith because of it, growing in relationships with those around me as I fight it. It's a pink tile with a silver lining. As I do these things, the dull, scratchy quality will become a more polished, shiny look with a smooth, soft feel and the silver lining will become more and more evident. The cancer just is. God is gracious and leads me step by step as I fight this. He gives me the faith to walk through this, the tools to fight this and the family and friends to love and support me as move through this.