Chris

Last summer, a routine annual check-up at Chase Farm Hospital for a bowel condition started a remarkable chain of events. After a quick chat with the consultant I was ready to leave, but then he checked my last blood test results and saw potential ‘markers’ for cancer. I was treated successfully for breast cancer 14 years ago, but I am at risk of recurrence. I was told I must have a CT scan.

The scan was quickly arranged and, soon after, a worried consultant phoned to say that the abdominal scan showed a mark low down in the left lung. Quickly - too quickly - a chest CT scan followed, revealing various other small marks as well as the one causing concern. A chest consultant showed me the offending ‘suspicious spiculated lesion’ on his monitor. It was obvious that both doctors were of the opinion that it was probably cancer and would need to be removed. I said I was not keen on surgery, as even a biopsy would involve three days in hospital and the collapse of the lung. I’ve had asthma all my life and though it is well under control, I would rather not lose any more lung capacity. Therefore, they decided to refer me to a chest surgeon in London with access to a PET scanner.

PET scans are very expensive and I didn’t realise until later how lucky I was to be given one, and so quickly too. This special scan reveals cancerous lumps as red ‘hot spots,’ whereas non-malignant marks, e.g. scars, remain dark. Going to UCL Hospital to meet the chest surgeon, I needed a friend, and an old pal came with me. The result was a big relief: although we both saw the lesion was still there, it was dark in colour. Despite this, I had been put on an operating list for the following week. Again I said I saw no need for this in the light of the negative result; so it was agreed that a CT scan should be performed in four months’ time; if the mark had grown, it would have to come out.

January 2009 came around and another CT scan was performed: I would have the results in two weeks. As I went to my appointment at the Chase Farm clinic, alone this time, I felt relaxed and even jolly! I even missed my train, which for me is unheard of! The nurse weighed me and we joked and laughed. My turn quickly came, and as I walked into his office, the consultant looked up at me in puzzlement and said, ‘It’s gone!’

My delighted reply, ‘Must be all the prayer I’ve had!’ drew the bemused response: ‘Yes!’

The written results, showing no abnormality in chest, abdomen or pelvis, were there in the open notes beside him, but he still could not believe it. He was checking my scan back and forth on the monitor, clicking the mouse, trying to find the lesion he had been so keen to remove. It wasn’t there - he had no explanation! I was discharged with no follow up! So I told the nurse, I told the receptionist, I told the people in the café: people prayed and God has healed me!

During all this time, I would like to be able to say that I was living in perfect peace and joy, but I wasn’t. Having had all the treatment for cancer before, I wasn’t looking forward to starting again. Also, I had been supporting and visiting my dear friend, confidante and prayer partner, Jenny, who was suffering with advanced lung disease. She died peacefully in September. However, whenever I was worried I remembered something which kept me hopeful and believing that God was in charge: the day after that first shock, a friend prayed for me, and God gave her a picture of me wearing only a beautiful necklace of real turquoise stones, and God’s promises were written on the jewels. The promises were mine, a gift from Jesus; no-one could take them away, and they were all I needed.

Another encouragement came one Sunday morning at St Barnabas when a ‘word of knowledge’ from God was given: ‘Someone has a problem in the left lower lung.’ I went to the front so that someone could pray for me in response, but the best feeling was knowing that God had everything in hand and knew every detail of my difficulty. This word from God, the prayers and support of my friends and family members, and the necklace picture all helped me to walk through this tough time. I am so grateful.

Thanks be to God for his mercy and love. His promises will never fail.