Treatment Beginning

Mike had the biopsy of the lymph node under his arm today. The oncologist has decided to start chemo on Monday. We should have the HER2 results by then and we may have the biopsy results as well. Treatment will change as needed as the remaining results come in. But the oncologist’s feeling is we need to get going attacking this so Mike’s symptoms do not get worse.

One of the first passages that came to Mike’s mind when he was diagnosed was James 1:2-4: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing”.

Endurance is important to our faith and will be important on this journey. We have been told that fighting cancer is a marathon not a sprint. I cannot say that I am viewing this trouble as an opportunity for “great joy”. It’s more like I’m being dragged, kicking and screaming, into something I don’t want to do. The thought of watching Mike go through chemo and regular scans, of waiting and wondering if the treatments are working, while trying to keep our family life as normal as possible is daunting. But, God has promised, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 4:10)

So, we begin the marathon on Monday. We take our first shaky steps towards developing endurance and a stronger faith.