The Bible study I am usually involved in (which I have been unable to attend since November) has been doing Margaret Feinberg's study about fighting with joy. One of them gave me the book associated with the study to read. In it, Margaret describes her own journey through cancer. One of the things I gleaned from it is a three word motto for dealing with cancer: accept-adapt-depend. Accept that you have this disease. Adapt however you need to while going through treatment and beyond. Depend on God to get you through. I am excited about getting to hear her in person in May.
Another book I found helpful (and which was also sent to me early on by some friends) is When God and Cancer Meet by Linn Eib. The author is a cancer survivor turned cancer advocate and the book is full of stories about the people she has met along the way. Each story has an element of hope and the book helped both Greg and I regain some balance and a healthy perspective.
It has been eight weeks since surgery. I had my fourth treatment in this series of nine on Thursday. I was by myself (which I don't mind) but God sent along a kind person, Nancy, to talk to me. She went through the same cancer and treatment as me 18 months ago and now she and her husband volunteer at the center. Talking with her gave me a little infusion of hope. I was given all the drugs again and I have felt rough since. This time I came home and slept five hours and then was awake most of the night. I have stabbing pain here and there and I imagine it is the cancer being killed off. Actually, because I have a vivid imagination, I picture tiny angels with swords stabbing those nasty cancer cells. Sore throat, fatigue, brain fog, no appetite, headache, and tinnitus are all with me at the moment. Thankfully, I know I will feel better in a day or two. Before this last treatment I had a good week. The weather is nice and I have been getting out and walking nearly every day. Soaking up some sunshine and breathing fresh air really helps. The doctor cleared me to drive and to resume exercise so I am excited about starting up classes this week. My white blood cell count was even lower than it usually is but they still decided to give me treatment. Chemo wreaks havoc on the immune system and then how is the body supposed to heal itself? I have been researching ways to build up my white blood cells and my immune system and I can see if it is working when I see my weekly blood work.
Please pray for all the cancer cells to die off and for my immune system to get stronger so it can take over the healing process. Also pray against fatigue and anxiety. Also pray that God will keep sending people that I can encourage and who will encourage me. Thank you all!
#ovariancancer #cancersurvivor #faithandspirituality
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