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CURE COMMUNITY
Faith and cancer
BY KATHY LATOUR | MARCH 18, 2010
Why is it so hard to talk about spirituality and cancer?
I originally began the story on cancer and spirituality /faith that appears in the spring issue ("Keeping the Faith") for the Healing Well department of the winter 2009 issue.
As I got into the story, I found there was no way to even address the question in fewer than 1200 words, and then everywhere I turned there were more nuances and approaches that I wanted to address. Finally, it was moved to a feature spot in the spring issue to have more room to explore what had become a long list of topics: How should I address faith and cancer when there are so many religions around the world, some of which ascribe to suffering as part of our earthly journey?
How do I respect those who use "God" in every sentence when it offends some people as not being intellectual? How do I bring in the fact that there is science about those who belong to a faith community and how much it helps people in so many ways – and the discrepancy our survey
And what about spirituality, which was my original focus of the story before I found out that there is no real way to define it. I thought I would finally have a definition when I interviewed Ryan Campbell, the hospital chaplain who speaks on the video slide show, "Chaplains Speak About Spirit" and in the Speaking Out department. I asked Ryan to define spirituality for me. He laughed and said, "No way." Even he wasn't going to try and define it.
Our beliefs are ours and, while there are studies about aspects of what we believe and how it affects us, my hope is that in your life you have found help with your cancer through faith, spirituality, or some other belief in "things unseen." I know I have.
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Kathy I am extied to be the first to comment! What a great job for putting the topic of Faith and Cancer on the table. By profession I am an HR Manager for a Manufacturing facility in Marshall, NC. Personally I am a woman diagnosed with Breast Cancer in August 2009, I am a wife, a mom of 2 grown children, 5 grandchildren, live in Manheim Germany 7 years, Iwakunki Japan 2 years and consider myself a pretty rounded individual who has faith that has been proven out for me!
Faith is a personal thing to me. My life has not always been easy as I have traveled my young 55 year old life. I cannot imagine going through a drug and alcohol addiction with one of my children, eating disorders, a grandson at the age of 9 mos had to have his entire skull reconstructed with 3 major operations and is a walking miracle and now being hit with the diagnosis of Breast Cancer and all that it brings.
I can't imagine going through this without my, I will say it, my Lord and my God Jesus Christ. For me he has been my protector, my defender, my strength when things are crazy by the worlds terms. I have seen miracles in my life by the power of my God to numerous to mention here. Calmness and clarity in my mind when faced with the challenges of life and strenth that comes from deep within my soul.
Faith is not an emotional thing for me. Faith is knowing that what ever we are going through all things are working together for good. And a complete confidence in the fact that this life, no matter how hard I will be ok. And there is a heaven and when my life is over on earth I will be there. Faith for me is the belief and substence of things to come.
Faith is a choice and like I said keeps me in a sane place in an otherwise unsane world. That is why I do face tomorrow with a smile and I know I will be able to make it on this wonderful journey of life and the hope that I have a bright future when my life here on earth is over. Now that is something I would not trade for anything!
- Posted by Luann 3/20/10 4:07 AM