You Are Cancer Free! Now What?

The diagnosis was cancer. You’ve taken the treatments and fought for your life.

Now you are cancer free.

It may seem like the cancer journey is over. It’s not. I know because In April 2001 I was diagnosed with choriocarcinoma.

After Three remarkable months of chemotherapy, hair loss and fighting for my life I was declared cancer free. Even though the physical healing came abruptly, and it was an amazing testimony to God’s goodness I was left with many questions. The most prominent one was—Now what do I do?

There are many good books about navigating cancer. In fact my doctor gave me his textbooks detailing my rare form of the disease.

He really was an exceptional oncologist giving me the advice I needed for recovering from the tumors in my liver.

But when I was finished I did not listen to him about post treatment hormonal therapy. The cancer I’d fought started in my uterus and we didn’t want a recurrence.

That may sound crazy since the man had saved my life.

—Take back your health. I take responsibility for my own health. After thoroughly researching hormonal replacement therapy I decided to take a more natural therapeutic approach. So I started to see a nutritionist.

Along with the medical books and testimonials from health experts, one of the textbooks I studied was the bible.

I asked him...

Father God, you are our source and giver of life. What would you have me do?

Isaiah 58: 8&9

“This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
    to break the chains of injustice,
    get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
    free the oppressed,
    cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
    sharing your food with the hungry,
    inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
    putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
    being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
    and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
    The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
    You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’

—Share your testimony. As I recovered from the disease and chemotherapy that saved my life I began speaking in churches, ladies groups and even a fortune 500 company.

I feel like this opportunity to share God’s goodness was the source of my greatest healing.

Encouraging others on their journeys brought me a peace and joy I’d not experienced until that time.

—Pray for open doors for God to use you.

One night a young woman approached me after speaking. She said, “why did God heal you and not my mother?”

I had no answer for her but attempted to encourage her regardless.

That question led me to say yes to an opportunity to train as a biblical counselor. For two years I studied a college course in Christian Counseling. And found great joy as a lay counselor in the same church after receiving my certification.

—Find out what service brings the greatest fruit in your life. Many people encouraged me to drive cancer patients or become involved in service as a cancer survivor.

Instead I found God leading me to serve in a women’s ministry as an Overseer in the mentoring department.

My volunteer work there has been one of the greatest joys I’ve had.

—Be open to new adventures. Yet one year later, I found myself on a new path writing a novel for victims of sex trafficking.

What trials are you currently going through? Whether it’s a physical disease, a difficult relationship or financial hardships  I promise you God is not finished in your life.

The burning presence of God is shaping you into a vessel he can use for his greatest exploits.

Are you cancer free? Congratulations my friend! A new adventure has begun!   

Have you overcome a seemingly impossible problem? Feel free to share in the comment section below.