The Blunder of Brooding on Bad News
Reshaping Your Perspective to Thrive Despite the Influx of Bad News
Living with the constant dread of bad news can weigh heavily on a cancer warrior’s spirit, affecting their emotional well-being and ability to thrive. However, amidst the onslaught of negative information, there lies an opportunity to reshape the perspective and find moments of resilience, hope, and joy. Cancer patients can find inner strength during tough times by changing how they see things and actively working to overcome challenges. This article will explore several ideas for cancer patients, providing a roadmap to thrive despite the influx of bad news. From reframing thoughts to embracing moments of stillness and connection, these points aim to empower and inspire the warrior within, helping to navigate the journey with courage and optimism.
First, it was losing a kidney, then life returned to normal. Then, nine years later, they found five tumors, with the largest being the size of my fist. Hopefully, with immunotherapy, the tumors will shrink.
Constant diarrhea, weakness, and all the changes in the body, along with doctors who plug you into the machine with little concern. So, I went for a second opinion,
The doctor suggested surgery. The surgeon said he could take out the Cancer, and I would only deal with a 50-50 chance it would come back. So in, you go and come out minus your adrenal glands (an essential part of your body) and a testicle.
Then you return for six months and receive excellent reports, and then they discover another spot.
Let’s watch it, but it continues to grow slowly.
Your one kidney may be failing. Your electrolytes are never where they are supposed to be.
Your body doesn’t know if it is hot or cold.
Medicines are given, but they don’t seem to help but rather throw you into panic attacks and fear you can’t breathe, from sweats to freezing. A black cloud of depression hangs over you, feeling like you are going to drown.
It turns out the doctor didn’t teach you how to take your meds properly.
Then, more spots, one on your lung, one near the pancreas, one in the groin, are growing, and what else can they come up with?
The news keeps pouring in. What are you to do? I want to help others who are traveling this road. You see, Paul told us we are to get comfort from the Lord and then share that comfort with others. II Corinthians 1:4.
I want to share with you what I do when all the news comes in. I know we all try to put on a brave front for others, but deep inside, we deal with stuff that others do not understand, so think about taking the following steps in your everyday journey.
Focus on the present moment instead of worrying about the future.
Pray yourself happy every morning first thing. That means finding truth to meditate on during the day, casting your cares and worries on the Lord, and trusting God for the day because you know no one is promised tomorrow.
Keep your heart focused on the truth. Believers know that we have enough to worry about today, so we leave yesterday in the past and wait for tomorrow, knowing that the God who takes care of us today will do the same tomorrow.
Keep a gratitude journal to focus on the positive aspects of the present. Do not become a victim of circumstances, but be thankful to God for all He is doing. Every day is a gift from God.
Practice letting go of the need to control the future, focusing instead on what you can do in the present.
Know that we, as believers, are destined for glory, and God will turn our vile bodies into something like the glorious body of Jesus Christ one day. Today’s sufferings are nothing compared to what awaits us in glory.
Remember, the bad news or the Cancer does not define you.
Many believers grapple with identity issues, unsure of who they truly are. However, it’s crucial to remember that our circumstances, such as Cancer, do not define our identity but our relationship with Christ. Understanding your identity in Christ means recognizing that you are deeply loved, never abandoned, never accused, forgiven, a new creation, and destined for heaven. Bring all your thoughts into captivity to Christ. Remember that Satan will love throwing junk at you in your head. You will take yourself into a thousand terrible places if you do not take control of your thoughts. Answer every negative thought with truth. Talk to yourself from truth rather than listening to yourself from fears.
You have known all your life that this world is not your home; you are just passing through. Our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. You remember singing that as a kid. If you didn’t, you might should now. We are built for glory.
Never identify yourself as Cancer that comes on us because we live in a sin-cursed world but rather Victor over all circumstances in Jesus Christ. Remember, we can’t lose in this. We pray God heals us and gives us more time with our family and loved ones, but if not, then more time with the One that loves us the most.
We are not even cancer survivors. We are Godly warriors who will put on the whole armor of Christ and seek to serve Him and glorify Him till He takes us to Himself in glory.
Accept and acknowledge your feelings without dwelling on them.
Know that Jesus knows what it means to be touched by your feelings. He feels with you. He is not a Savior that is so far away that He doesn’t understand your reality. So feel whatever floods over you, but then go to the Lord and trust Him to give you the strength to glorify Him in whatever happens in your life.
Feel free to speak about how you feel to those that are closest to you. They might not like hearing it and will correct you and tell you not to think that way, but they are dealing with their own hurt. You are not the only one dealing with feelings.
Set boundaries around how much time you spend processing emotions. Think about your feelings and emotions, but get on with it. Do not dwell there. Remember this truth: motions affect emotions. In other words, get up and act happy, trust like you know you should, step out in faith, and your emotions will follow your motions.
Do not isolate yourself from others. You need them and they need you. Satan is the chief separator and divider. God never intended for His people to live alone. Yet fear makes us want to draw up inside ourselves. Don’t.
Let go of what you can’t control. The desire to be in control can destroy us. We want so desperately to control things, but God is in control, and He knows exactly what to do and when.
Practice forgiveness
Forgive God, yourself, the doctor, and your family. I say that because when you discover all that is happening, you might just keep thinking, why is God doing this to you? You want to play the blame game. It was your DNA inherited from your family, or you didn’t take care of yourself. This will help nothing, and your anger and bitterness will only make you sicker. Forgive because you have been forgiven.
Make the choice and decision to forgive those who have hurt you. When you are dealing with all that comes with your cancer diagnosis, you do not need the baggage you have carried around for so long. It isn’t a question of what they did to you or what happened but rather of what you are going to do with it.
No holding grudges, bad feelings, bad memories because all they do is add more clouds to what is already a darkening sky. You need all your energy to fight the Cancer, not try and stick more hatred somewhere inside of you.
God is in charge of all revenge. God will take care of any hurts you have, so give them to Him. God is also in charge of your Cancer, so you will want your focus to be on God and His plan, not your hurt, your past, and how you feel.
Forgiving others frees you. Holding on to grudges is like drinking poison and hoping your enemy dies from the poison, so give everything to the One who loves you and cares about you.
Find your purpose and meaning despite challenging circumstances.
Help others with the help God gives you. That is exactly what I am trying to do in this article. Focus on blessing and serving others and finding freedom from the Lord. Know that even the prophets, to preach a message, had to live the message, and this just might be our chance to do just that.
What are and have been your core values? What has meant the most to you? You still have today, so use it for the purpose you had. The game isn’t over till the buzzer sounds, so take your shots, make your moves, and do what you were meant to do.
Keep growing. You do not know if it is over, so stop acting like it is. Live. Love. Learn. Continue to use the gifts God gave you.
What would you do if you had the time and the ability to do it? Some call it the bucket list, so do it now. Work on the family relationships. Work on your friendships. Make use of every minute you have.
Deepen your relationship with God. You are about to spend eternity with Him, so do not walk away now. You can trust Him. He may be going to heal you, but He will definitely use you for His honor and glory, so allow that to happen.
Great Quotes
“Remember that the pain of all your experiences is what makes you the fighter you are today. Your strength is your guide now.” Anonymous
“While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us.” Benjamin Franklin
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis
As cancer warriors navigate their journey, they must remember that they can find strength amid adversity. Taking initiative, changing your mindset, and finding moments of strength, positivity, and happiness are all part of the path to thriving even in the face of negative news. Remember, it’s okay to acknowledge and accept your feelings, focus on the present moment, and find purpose and meaning every day. Each step you take holds the potential for renewal and empowerment. By sharing these ideas and experiences, we empower ourselves and others who may traverse similar paths. For amid life’s storms, hope and courage can lead us to unexpectedly beautiful destinations. Remember, the bad news or Cancer does not define you, but your resilience and strength in facing it. Keep moving forward, for the power lies in your unwavering spirit and ability to embrace the journey with courage and optimism.
Medical Update
I received my latest test results, showing a new focus on metastatic renal cells. This leads to a need for a medical oncologist to evaluate potential immunotherapy treatment. We’re also monitoring concerns about the pancreas, with a consultation scheduled for July 3rd.
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