My Journey Through Breast Cancer
The Walk of Faith*

Martha V. L. McKelvey

Hi my name is Martha V. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October, 2004. I suspected something was wrong in September, but was not really sure. New Hope Community Church - City of Refuge (my church) held a community health fair that was also in September 2004. Being that I suspected something was not right, I collected information on breast cancer (self-exams, etc). I then repeated the exam and the lump was still there, so I made an appointment with my doctor. The lump was confirmed. I was sent for more tests (biopsy and ductogram). Results from the biopsy did confirm that the lump was cancerous. This was in October, 2004.

The day I found out it was breast cancer, of course the weakness of the flesh set in and I was headed down the road to a depressed state of mind. But my God is an awesome and wonderful God and by the grace of God I still had the mind-set to pray, because I knew I couldn't do this by myself. I prayed and asked the Lord what it was that He wanted me to do. Whatever it is, your will be done, not mine. If it was for me to die, I still knew that God would take care of me. As I awoke the next morning my mind-set, my spirit and my outlook at the situation was totally different and peaceful. God had this and I had nothing to worry about. From this point on, God just opened up doors that I had no idea were even there.

I'd never had surgery before, so therefore I had no clue what doctors I should even start looking for. But to show you how God worked this thing out, there was a friend of mine who had another friend that just went through the same thing a few weeks/months before. She recommended a doctor that had done her reconstruction. I called this doctor thinking that this was the one, but found out that this doctor did not do the actual surgery so they in turn referred me to the doctor that works with them.

I met with the doctor and because of the peace that was upon him along with the peace that God had given me I found myself at ease. It was like God was saying "this is the one". After talking to him, I knew he was truly God's choice. Not only was the doctor a good one, but he was saved and believed strongly in the word of God. After this, I was really thinking okay Lord - YOU GOT THIS - my life is really in your hands. He had shown favor, but it didn't stop there.

I did have the surgery which was in November, 2004. The day of the surgery I had my mom there (whom at the time had already gone through cancer treatment and was now cancer-free), my daughter, my son, and my friend, Min. J. Diggs and others who were there for support. The surgery was completed and everything went fine (along with the lump on the left side they also removed a small lump on the right side that was not cancerous yet). After going through the procedures in the recovery room, I went into my own room with family and friends at my side.

It may sound weird, but my hospital stay was a blessing in that God was really showing out his love and blessings. The nurses, doctors - all were just awesome. It was as if God had hand-picked the ones He wanted to come by or to take care of me, in fact I know He did. Even down to the roommates he allowed to be in my room, His will was evident. My first roommate was okay, but she didn't really get into the word of God during that time, so God removed her the next day and brought in someone else and it was so obvious that God had sent her there to be with me just for the moment.

To just show you how God can speak things into existence, the young lady he sent (I called her my angel from God) was not even from Houston, but had come down for a Christian/Gospel concert that was being held at the Cynthia Woods Pavilion and she became ill (with an illness she had thought was cured earlier), so they transported her to St. Luke's Hospital. She was a young person, but was saved and believed strongly in the word of God and worked diligently in the church. Not only did she believe for herself, but also her father was the Pastor of the church that she attended. I needed the conversation and God knew this. We talked half the night after she was given her pain medications. I was to go home that Sunday, so God fixed it to where my roommate went home only 1-2 hours before I did. She was there just for the moment by God. The Holy Spirit was revealing things to me that were just blowing my mind. I realized that this journey was for a reason and a purpose declared by God himself. This was to strengthen my faith in Him, but also to witness to others that He is a Healing God. After the surgery I should have been on pain medications for at least another day. But that Friday morning when I was asked if I was in pain, my response was "no" I was not. To be honest, I was almost pain free - a little discomfort maybe, but no pain. The nurse looked at me like "WHAT, you are not in pain?" As a matter of fact, my own mother came in that morning to visit me and I was up and walking around with the IV pole when I should have been in bed. God had given me the strength to endure. I was even told by the doctors and nurses that I didn't act like I had cancer, that my positiveness was awesome. My response to that was that it was because of God. He was the only reason I was the way I was.

To make a long story short, I did have to take chemo but not radiation (Thank God), and that was another journey within a journey. Needless to say, God blessed me in that experience, as well. Insurance, my job, money was all in the hands of the Lord. There were incidents that happened even with that side of it that could have been nothing short of God's grace and mercy following me all the days of my life.

My Journy Through Chemo for Breast Cancer

Insurance matters were taken care of and I began my chemo on February 1, 2005 (my mom had emergency surgery the same day I started my chemo as her cancer was back). The procedure in taking the chemo was that you already had to have what was called a portacath (VAD, or Vascular Access Device) - a port for catheters. As I began my journey through the chemo process there were what they called cycles. I had 4 cycles to take of the 1st phase, which was called the "FAC" because there were 3 medications at each treatment. This took ~3-3 1/2 hours each time. This was the strongest of the medications I had to endure. With each session, I would have to be tested for my red blood and my white blood count. I had to have a blood test before it was time to come in for my next treatment to be sure my system was able to take the treatment that was coming up because the chemo would kill not only the bad cells but the good ones as well. I got stuck so many times that it didn't bother me after a while. I could even tell them which needle needed to be used in order to find my blood vein. By my second treatment, I had lost all my hair. This phase lasted for 3-4 months.

Then the 2nd phase of medications was the Taxotere for 3 months. The good thing about this was that I only had to take this one for an hour each time. The doctors told me that my hair would not start growing back until after this phase. Well, God stepped in again and my hair began to grow back approximately after the 2nd treatment. By the time my mom passed away in August, 2005, my hair had covered my head and I didn't have to wear a wig any more. I finished the medications with flying colors and now the only thing I had to do was to take a precautionary drug called Herceptin for a year along with the Tamoxifen pills and high blood pressure pills to help with the fluid retention from the chemo. I finished the precautionary medication in November, 2006 and I'm still here only by the grace, mercy and favor of God the Father.

In all of this, I still had to be obedient to the Father in whatever He was telling me to do. I made up my mind that God was more important than the cancer that was trying to attack my body. The doctors would tell me not to be around a lot of people because my immune system was low, but then I felt God asking me if HE was more important than the doctors were. I felt I still needed to go to church in order to obey God's will so I went to the 8:00 am service (where there were not a lot of people) and then went home before the 10:00 am service.

Before long I was back singing with the Praise Team when my strength would let me. There were so many little things that I had to obey God on in order to even make it this far in the journey. I found myself coping better by having a positive attitude and keeping God first, no matter what the circumstances. I realized that all of this was for a reason and a purpose from God. I was created for a time such as this. Don't get me wrong, there were days that were really hard on the mind, faith, spirit and body, but by keeping focused with my eyes on God I knew that whatever plan God had for me, this experience had to happen first in order to get me to the next level.

My mom was such an inspiration. We both were going through the cancer and chemo together there for a while. My children, that God so graciously blessed me with, were great. They kept me laughing and in a good mood, providing a loving attitude and atmosphere for me. My Pastor and First Lady kept me in their prayers and always encouraged me to keep the faith. Pas would always tell me "Keep the Faith" and at first I didn't understand why until my journey was upon me. I thank God for positioning Pas to be there in my pathway to encourage me. Knowing God as my Master, Father, and Savior really helped me to keep going. I learned to have an even more intimate relationship with God. We take so much for granted and God still gives us chance after chance after chance to get it right. People say "I'm saved" and "I know God," but do you really know and trust God?

For those who are going through cancer or have just been diagnosed with cancer, let me tell you that your mind-set really does have a lot to do with how you progress. Keeping a positive attitude that you are going to be able to cope and even beat this thing will really help your recovery progress. If you're down and disgusted or stressing out then your progress will slow down, and may even get worse.

The #1 thing to do is - put God 1st, pray, keep the faith, knowing that you are in His hands and it's really not about us, but God. Don't just pray when you're sick. Remember to keep praying even after deliverance. Keep believing in the Word of God. Give your life to Him. He's the Master Planner and He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He is the Creator and He has created you for a purpose. Your life is an example or vessel for Him, not us. Get in alignment with Him and see where He is working and join Him there. There is a blessing, a calmness and peace of mind in Jesus Christ. I am a witness. People come to me and say "oh, you're in remission" - (to refrain from inflicting; to give relief from suffering; to reduce in degree or intensity). No, "I am Healed" - (healed - to make sound or whole. I've been made whole by God the Father). How do I know I am Healed? Because in Jer. 17:14 it says: "Oh Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone." Also in Mark 10:52 it says: "And Jesus said to him, Go, for your faith has healed you. Instantly the man could see and he followed Jesus down the road."

Prayerfully, I hope that as you read this, My Journey through Cancer, it will help you to cope, not only with sickness, but with life. I hope that you come into the realization that God is real and alive and that there is none other like Him. Keep the Faith and live a life that is pleasing to Him. If you don't know what that is, please pray and ask God for guidance and direction on what you need to do to get to that point. Then really listen for His answer to you.

Here's a little something on the "PLAN OF SALVATION," the ABC's of Becoming a Christian: A - Admit. Admit to God that you are a sinner. Repent, turning away from your sin (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). B - Believe. Believe that Jesus is God's son and accept God's gift for forgiveness from sin (John 3:16; 14:6). C - Confess. Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (Rom. 10:9 - 10:13).

May God continue to bless and keep all of you. You have the victory in Christ Jesus.

*These submissions represent the author's opinion. Tunguska Time does not claim responsibility for the content. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Always consult a doctor for medical advice.