Testimony
HAVING BREAST CANCER, A BLESSING (?)
By: Vangie N. Sison
(Published in The Baptist Chronicle, October issue, 2006)
Having diagnosed with breast cancer, per se is devastating! But as a Christian, knowing that we have a Great Physician, The Lord JESUS CHRIST, makes a lot of difference. Here’s my story:
In mid-April, 2006 I felt some shooting pain in my upper right breast, at first I ignored it due to my hectic work schedule, but when I self-examined it, I discovered I have a lump on the very place where the pain was originating. I decided to submit for a mammogram and on May 5, 2006 the result suggested for a biopsy because there was high suspicion of malignancy.
My husband, Romy brought me to an oncologist who was also a surgeon in one of the hospitals in Metro Manila. We talked for 2 hours, the doctor everything and he suggested for my immediate operation. It was at this point when we had a dilemma because at that time, the 3 of us, Romy – Donna, our youngest daughter and myself had already tickets for our May 24, 2006 trip to Canada as immigrants. We told the doctor about our situation and asked him if my surgery could wait for 3 months, aware that our medical insurance in Ontario takes that long to take effect. He expressed his sincere desire to help me and suggested that I should have my surgery in the Philippines because my lump was obviously big and he found some lymph nodes near the area, and he wasn’t sure how it would be after 3 months.
We called up our son, Richard, who petitioned us and told him about everything. He was so sorry and distraught and didn’t know what to do as well. Finally we decided to have the operation in the Philippines. We cancelled our flight for May 24. We thought perhaps the Lord didn’t want us to come to Canada, but on the other hand we were wondering why He granted us our visa. On top of this dilemma was the financial aspect, wherever the surgery takes place.
FIRST MIRACLE:
On May 20, my son called up and told us to proceed with our flight and have the operation here in Canada. We can no longer get a flight schedule that easy. The next available flight according to the agency was July 18. On May 23, 2006, 8:00 in the morning, we prayed very hard for the right decision and Romy asked God for a sign. He begged God to give us tickets within a week, if the Lord wants us to proceed to Canada, if not, then it means the Lord wants the operation to be in the Philippines. At 10:00 A.M. we were at the hospital to get the results of my blood work which were needed prior to my surgery; when my cell phone rang. It was from the travel agency, informing us that she was able to get 3 tickets for us on the same day, May 24 – at 8:00 A.M. The Lord answered our prayers not in a week time but in a matter of 2 hours. You can just imagine what happened next (rush here! rush there! rush everywhere!)
By God’s grace we arrived Toronto on the same day – May 24, 2006. Sometime in June, we met Bro. Cesar and Bro. George in a Chinese restaurant and they invited us to attend in the Grace Baptist Church International at Brimley, Scarborough. It was a wonderful experience to meet warm and caring Filipino Christians.
During that time, I already had free check-up at the Volunteer Community Clinic, through the help of Richard’s friend, Julbert. The volunteer nurses were very supportive and kind and arranged for my biopsy, which result confirmed that I have breast cancer; the doctor’s fee was free but since I was not covered yet by the Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP), I was charged $200.00 for the hospital fee. At first I was told that the Community Clinic will take charge of it, but I was informed later that hospital bills are not included in their very limited budget. The Billing Department of the hospital kept calling me at home reminding me to pay immediately my bill, aside from their mailed bill sent to me. I was given a deadline to pay before the end of June. I kept this from our son, considering that he has had so much expenses for us already lately. It was indeed a pressure added to my anxieties.
SECOND MIRACLE:
On Sunday afternoon of June 25, Pastor Greg of the GBCI asked how I was doing with my check up, I requested him to pray for me because it was confirmed thru the biopsy result that I have breast cancer and that I have to undergo a surgery. Pastor Greg asked if the volunteer clinic was paying my hospital bill for the biopsy, thus, he learned of my predicament. He consoled me and said I just have to pray about it because God answers prayers. Before leaving, Bro. Cesar handed me an envelope with a cheque from the Church. I was deeply touched by this Church’ love to co-Christians, not to mention that we are just visitors in their church. I was overwhelmed that moment, that I did not see the exact amount. I thought it was just a little amount to help me out pay my bill. To my surprise, it was the whole amount I needed to pay the hospital bill. God is so good, really! I paid my bill before the deadline.
On July 12, we were asked to decide whether to have a lumpectomy (to remove only the lump) in which case 2 sessions of chemotherapy was required costing $1,100.00 to shrink the lump prior to surgery while awaiting the OHIP benefit. The first session of chemotherapy was scheduled on July 14. The second option was to undergo mastectomy (removing the whole of my right breast) and wait for the result of the findings for further treatment. We decided to have mastectomy because either way will undergo surgery, anyway. If the schedule of my surgery will be before my OHIP takes effect, we have to pay for the hospital bill again and whatever prescriptions given. This is what concerned me most because this time it involves thousands of Canadian dollars.
THIRD MIRACLE (MOST AMAZING!)
I was scheduled to see the surgeon, Dr. Carlos Alvarez, last August 5, 2006.
He called up the Scarborough Grace Hospital to determine its availability for the schedule of my operation. To our amazement, we were notified that my schedule was August 24, 2006, the very day my OHIP takes effect. Words cannot express the joy we felt, personally experiencing how God really works in our lives.
The surgery took only an hour (1:00 – 2:00 P.M.), by 6:00 P.M. we were already at home. I was prescribed 22 tablets of Tylenol 300, but by God’s grace, I only took 2 tablets since that day to this day. It was almost painless. The cut measures approximately 10 inches but it didn’t bother me much. Before my operation, I thought it would take weeks before I could work with our Ministry, The Baptist Chronicle. But by God’s grace, it only took 2 days from my surgery when I found myself in front of the computer so Romy and I were able to finish the August issue of the Baptist Chronicle. How we really PRAISE GOD for all these wonderful things that happened to me!
There were other medical expenses incurred prior to my surgery but the Lord provided through the love gifts from Glencairn Baptist Church led by Rev. Luis Notario, my nephews and nieces, Neil & Tintin Napase, Aldo and Ging Sison and dear friends Rex and Alma Bashaw.
At the time of this writing, I already have had 3 sessions of chemotherapy. I will have a total of 6 sessions, every after 3 weeks, if my blood work is ok. After my chemo, I still have to undergo 25 days of radiation, to be administered daily, hopefully by the end of February 2007. I was also told that I will be given a second round chemo for 1 year, Herceptin (this is a very expensive medication, which costs a thousand dollars per session in the US) but by God’s grace, the government of Canada recently (2005 ?) approved its inclusion in the package for cancer patients, free of charge. Isn’t this a great blessing?
I personally really cannot quantify the blessings God gave me from the time I was diagnosed with breast cancer. But as the song entitled “Count Your Blessings” says, we have to count our blessings and name them one by one, we have to count our blessings to see what God hath done, hereunder are the blessings I personally received from the Lord during these trying times:
1. The Lord gives me peace that I had never experienced before; I have known myself to be a worrier even with little things, but even with cancer, He gives me peace. (Romans 5:1)
2. He gives me good appetite and good sleep at night; who can give these, but the LORD!
3. Once again the power of prayers proved very effective. (James 5:14-15) I have never been prayed for by God’s chosen men (pastors) and brethren these much from different churches and places; God showed to me and to my family true Christians in action. Churches who included me in their prayer lists, the GBCI, Glencairn Baptist Church, MBBC Toronto, IBBC, Mississauga, IBBC, Montreal, IBBC San Leandro, California, USA Heron Baptist Church, Toronto, Cebu Bible Baptist Church, Baptist Church of the Firstborn in Mandaluyong, Blue Ridge Bible Baptist Church, Bible Baptist Church in Project 8, Bible Baptist Church, Pasay, Bethany Baptist Church, Makati; MBBC, Sta. Ana, IBC, Malabon, Pilgrim Bible Baptist Church, Cainta, IBBC, Deparo, Iloilo BBC of La Paz, Bustos Christian Baptist Church, Bustos, Bulacan and of course, our home church in the Philippines, Bethany Baptist Church, Pangarap, Kalookan City, etc.
4. I am so blessed with the support, care and love of my family. It is at this time that I realized God has given me a wonderful family to love and to cherish. My husband is always here to assist, care, encourage, and serve me at all times – things I never expected him to do for me, really; my son is very supportive, giving me time despite his busy schedules, providing all the material support, treating me like a queen; my daughters and my daughter in-law - oh they’re just very sweet and caring and ready to give a hand when needed. I did not realize all these blessings, not until I have this breast cancer;
5. Dear friends and relatives and brethren in the faith are real treasures. Distance matters not. They comfort me through overseas calls, emails, mailed get well soon cards, they chat with me and tell me that they are praying for my full recovery;
6. The doctors and the nurses that have been instrumental in my treatment and fast recovery have been so kind and helpful to me and made my burden lighter.
7. The medicines, the doctors, the hospitals are merely instruments used by man, but everything comes from God, He is the LORD who truly heals. (Psalm 103: 2-3) “Bless the LORD O my soul, forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.”
Considering all these, will I still have time to fret and worry? Did God forsake me? Not a single day Actually, there are times when I forget that I have cancer, because I feel good and normal, except for some minor side effects of chemotherapy which God Himself permits me to bear and manage. By His grace, I have not missed a single Sunday service since we arrived here in Canada; He always provide good weather on Sundays.
To all the pastors, brethren, relatives and friends who have prayed for me and are still praying for my full recovery, and to those who have helped me in one way or another both emotionally and materially, in behalf of my family, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I will cherish your kind deeds as long as I live. (Gal. 6:2)
God has given me more than I could ask for. (Luke 11: 9-10) HE REALLY IS A WONDERFUL FATHER AND A WONDERFUL GOD!
I can only PRAISE GOD FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL BLESSINGS HE HAS GIVEN ME. PRAISE BE THE LORD! TO HIM BE THE HONOR, AND GLORY, PRAISES & THANKSGIVING, NOW AND FOREVER, AMEN!!