Has your faith, spiritual, or religious beliefs changed since cancer?
Please take our poll, and share your thoughts and feelings below in the discussion.
Has your faith, spiritual, or religious beliefs changed since cancer? 42 votes
20 votes
6 votes
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Comments
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cancer has putting me in touch with the true reality of G-d and how EVERYTHING depends on him
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Yes, I'm more spiritual
I went through the many varied stages of change that cancer requires. From the life-changing news, and the "why me?" and "what did I do to deserve this?", to the difficulty of acceptance, and denial, making bargains with myself, promises to my future self, to finish my educational goals, bargains with God, to improve myself, and find peace between He and I, to eventual acceptance when it was clear this would be something that would be life-changing.
I sat through the remembrance of my diagnosis, anniversary dates of diagnosis, the experiences that included dismissal of surgeons about my complications and side effects of treatment, to all of the post-surgery part ( which really I gloss right over) that stays with me, everyday.
The outcome is a story that is sometimes painful to think about, even though I have worked through stages of accepting this. And praying through this.
It's been a decade. Yet, a decade is a day after a cancer diagnosis. Although I'm very very grateful to be in remission and alive.
My faith in God has been strengthened. But I would be lying if I said I don't have a moment now and again where I feel overwhelmed, or unworthy, or question the why, once again, as if this time I'll discover the reason that makes sense. Cancer never made much sense.
Yeah. It's an unfair question– really– to an unfair misfortune, so I have learned to make the best of it by acknowledging grace in the moment. It's made me reach upward.
I live each day, one at a time. Grateful. Never getting too far ahead of myself that I can't keep up. That's the way I used to live. Not now. Now, I am realistic. I am pragmatic. I trust God, even on the days when I doubt everything.
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No change
No change for me. I’d like to say I found a deeper meaning to life, but I didn’t. Lots of people get cancer and certainly everyone knows someone who has / had cancer so I’m certainly not alone in the cancer world. Also, there are many, many serious and life threatening diseases other than cancer so I try to remain aware of that. Everyone is struggling with something at some point in life.
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No change
I think I felt what my father must have, during the Holocaust….if there is a god, why is he doing nothing with all this imagined power.
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Yes, I'm more spiritual
A year before BC, one of my sisters died in a traumatic auto accident. Death can come at any time.
Since BC, I have worked through some personal faith issues that had damaged my relationship with God.
So, yes, but I think the other factors are more important.
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Breast cancer hasn't made me spiritual, but it has made me fierce. After becoming a survivor:
- I organized a labor union at my workplace
- I filed for wrongful termination with the National Labor Relations Board after being fired for organizing a labor union - and I won
- I filed an unpaid wages complaints with our state Department of Labor
- I helped my coworkers file unpaid wages complaints with the DoL - we all won
- I advocate for unionization and employee rights and protections in my industry
My mantra now is, "I beat cancer, little man. Why should I be afraid of you?" There is a lot that we put up with in this world that we shouldn't have to. We need to stand up for ourselves and our communities with the time we have available to us.
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During my surgery my BS was a woman who actually said a prayer before surgery. It was comforting to know she asked for help to help get the cancer and for healing for me after my mx.
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Yes, I'm more spiritual
I have to give a little history. For the last 10 years or so, I struggled with my salvation. I've always believed in God, gone to church, been baptized etc. But I knew my prayer life, life in general just didn't show or reflect my faith in God. I worried that I may have become so fallen there was no return. No matter what anyone told me, showed me in the bible would help or make me feel secure. In Jan 2024, I had began praying again for assurance. On Feb 6, 2024, I had come back to my desk from lunch and began praying. I found myself crying and then such a comforting voice said "Why are you crying? Your sins are forgiven". I have never wept in such sadness, gladness and thankfulness as that day. Fast forward a week later, my husband and I were on vacation for our 25th anniversary. I happened to look in the mirror and noticed that my left breast seemed larger. Yep. HER2+ IDC with at least one node. I wish I could say my recent assurance of my salvation, renewed faith kept me from going through various emotions during the time of diagnosis. But, this cancer journey has increased my knowledge of my need of a Savior who is the only one who can save, heal and comfort. I'm still weepy every time I think about Feb 6th 2024. God knew my life was about to go into a whirlwind and I needed to hear that voice confirm that I am forgiven! Today I celebrate a complete response to chemo, completed surgery, radiation and will complete the last of my targeted therapy in April. Hugs all!
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No change
I think breast cancer put me a bit more in touch with my own mortality, and that impacted me in ways that I wouldn't necessarily use the word spiritual for, but it could potentially apply.
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i had more confidence in God before the cancer am in remission, ned and my dr would not say i will be ok. if the bc is gone, why can’t i feel ok? These people say they accept it, well i can say that but i dont know how to accept it as its ok I know God has given me a big job. i need help to get thru this. had mastectomy but have scary feeling in stomach sometimes i feel calm but mornings i dont. Need help. Thank you
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No change
I'm sorry lovelau. How long has it been since your surgery?
Do you have access to any mental health support or sources of spiritual support if you are part of a faith community?
I don't know if the fear every really goes away, but I hope you have more calm mornings and fewer scary ones as time goes on. <3
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Yes, I'm more spiritual
@lovelau I am so sorry you are having trouble with this but so happy you are in remission. Breast cancer is scary and anyone who has experienced it will agree. I pray you will find your reassurance and comfort in God soon. I too worry that when I go for my first mammo post clear pathology after chemo will find out that I am not cancer free. I think anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis will have this fear/doubt. Cancer is a sneaky creature. I pray for your comfort!! And all of us who have battled it!
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well i had bmx so no screening, just a yearly talk with pcp. i have lots of anxiety need to stop it. didn’t get chemo after bmx. Nurse called Dr wants me to take statins. He said preventive care. google says that statins help with recurrence. are you taking statins? thanks
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my surgery was 2019, still have anxiety, meds don’t help much, i take zoloft have sleep problems etc. i’m catholic but go to christian church, for fellowship, catholic priest in confession said told me it was ok, but the people think im not praying right or praising God.I see psyc and therapist. after surgery onc said no chemo it does not work on lobular. then she said that she would give me chemo cause i was taking radiation. i was confused and so didn’t get chemo. low Oncotype, lobular stage 1b, i did not know what questions to ask,. went back 3 times for new pictures, didnt enter my mind that i could have bc. i never smoked or drank breast fed for 3 years, exercised daily, never took birth control or hormones. but i was over weight. Thought i did everything right.
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Yes, I'm more spiritual
We don't need to blame ourselves for BC. I breast-fed for five years total for two kids. What happens, happens. All I want is to go to heaven when I die. I seek beauty in this painful life, but it is only a taste of what is in heaven. I am 75, but any life-threatening conditions are in control. I expect to live another ten years, but I am at peace with God (most of the time). Catholic, with new insights from the Guadalupe experience.
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Yes, I'm more spiritual
@lovelau so sorry that your are struggling. Especially with your faith. My faith in God is what got me through all of the breast cancer treatment, and still getting me through it! Do not believe for one minute that it is because you didn't pray the right way or anything of the sort. God knows our hearts and he knows that we may not always know the things we should say or pray and that is why He sends the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us. My best friend was Catholic but has found comfort in Christianity. I find her knowledge of the Catholic faith interesting and we talk about how there are so many similarities, but also differences. As Christian, I know that each of us have access to God on our own. We do not need human intercession. Jesus fixed that issue by dying on the cross. I am praying for you and hope you find the peace you need and the doctors will make your path clear medically speaking. Please ask anything and I will answer to the best of my ability. Hugs to you and everyone!!
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