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Facing Thyroid Cancer
I Learned God’s Promises Are Real
by Brooke Westbrook
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Cancer. You have cancer. No, that’s not possible. I am 29
years old. In fact, my birthday is just a few days away. I
am too young. I have a husband, a three year old, and a one
year old. They are full of life. They need me. No, not me.
Can this be right? God, I need you. I desperately need you.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the
LORD...(Jer. 29:11). Then, I thought about it. I am a child
of God. I am a Christian, and I am blessed to have a
wonderful, supportive Christian family and church. God knew
this was going to happen to me. He knew I was going to have
cancer. Although it was a terrifying surprise to me, He was
not shocked for a moment. Something about that fact gave me
peace.
I never thought I would have cancer. It was a week before my
thirtieth birthday. Instead of celebrating with my family, I
was facing thyroid cancer. We were going to doctor
appointments, making plans for babysitters, discussing
treatments and possibilities, researching information, and
trying to make it day to day with this new word in our
world–cancer. Hearing the word cancer was the last thing I
expected to hear. When you sit across from the doctor and
they mention cancer, it is really only the beginning. You
are faced with so many worries, anxieties, and
possibilities. That is when I realized that the waiting and
not knowing is sometimes just as difficult as the knowing!
Again, I heard God’s Word speaking to my heart, “But they
that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.”
(Isaiah. 40:31). The doctors had explained that there was
only a very small chance that it would be malignant. I had
two small girls to take care of and a lifetime of memories
yet to make. How could this one word change my life forever?
Finally, after multiple tests, I was told that it was
malignant. Initially, I was shocked. Questions began
swirling in my mind? Has it spread to other parts of my
body? Will they remove my thyroid? What effects will it
have? Will I have to undergo treatments? Will I still be
able to care for my children? Then, I began to think of
every possible situation that I could control. Before I
could wrap my mind around this life change, God wrapped His
arms around me. I heard Him in my heart again, “Be still and
know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10) I realized that he had
allowed me to have cancer for a reason and would be with me
every step of the way. He had a plan for me. It might not
have been revealed immediately, but His plan was revealed to
me in His time.
The plan of action to fight my thyroid cancer was surgery.
Their plan was to remove my entire thyroid and anything
suspicious. I met with the surgeon and asked a lot of
questions. My initial reaction to surgery was picturing the
imperfection that would be there. The thought of them
cutting my neck open to remove the mass was quite scary, but
I imagined this huge scar on my neck for the rest of my
life. I could just see me wrapping my neck with a scarf or
keeping it hidden under a turtleneck. Not so bad, it would
not be too difficult to hide after all. I was attempting to
find ways to hide my scar. Isn’t that the same way that we
try to mask our weaknesses and struggles in our life? We try
to look and act perfect, and we so often forget that no one
is perfect. No one except Jesus.
After the surgery, we were relieved to find out that the
cancer did not spread past my thyroid. I would have a
recovery period, and then I would undergo treatment. Your
thyroid works to regulate different things in your body such
as hormones. I never realized how instrumental my thyroid
was to my body until I was faced with this cancer! Following
the surgery, I started taking a pill to regulate my
hormones, the way that my thyroid used to function before it
was removed. My energy level was low; I was tired and felt
exhausted all the time. This was a trying time for me.
Without that energy, I found myself having to rely on
others. Wow, that is difficult for someone used to being
independent!
However, despite my attempts to resist the help of others, I
found that my needs gave others the opportunity to surround
me with love and comfort. Matthew 11: 28-30 says, “Come to
me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest...” I was able to witness God’s comfort through a new
set of eyes. I think you can truly feel God’s comfort when
you are so low that you have nowhere else to go but to look
up to HIM.
Friends and family covered me in prayer, helped take care of
my children, cooked meals, and continually reminded me of
God’s strength. They were definitely God’s vessels during
this battle. As God and others loved me, I was reminded of
His promise in 2 Corinthians 1:4 “God comforts us so that we
can comfort others.” I realized that God’s plan was for me
to love Him in spite of my circumstances and to love others.
I prayed that He would allow me to comfort others the same
way that He was comforting me.
The next phase in fighting my cancer was through treatment.
My doctor discussed the treatment describing it as a process
that would require an isolation period. I would take a
radioactive pill to destroy any remaining cancer cells in my
body. Several precautions had to be taken during my
isolation period. I had to be especially careful of my
children and the effects of the radiation. I spent a week
away from my family and friends. As a busy, young mom of a
toddler and a preschooler, I had dreamed of a week to
myself. However, this isolation was not exactly what I had
been thinking! Although I was sick after some of the
treatments and lonely at times, I did have a lot of time to
reflect, to read encouraging cards and verses I had been
given, and to ask God what other plans He had for me. The
isolation period was difficult on my body physically and on
my heart emotionally, but it gave my spirit a week of rest,
prayer, and a week of God showing me how He works in spite
of my weaknesses.
I feel inspired with a new life now. I have heard people say
that after facing cancer, you see life differently. I truly
do have a new vision on life. I try to live a life where I
appreciate the little blessings. I try not to get distracted
by insignificant problems that used to plague me. I
remembered what all I experienced and witnessed through my
fight with cancer. I remember that God’s promises are real.
He tells us not to worry or be anxious about tomorrow
(Matthew 6:34).
After going through this experience, I wake up every morning
and look at the small scar on my throat. It is a reminder
that God had His hand on me through such a scary time in my
life, a time that I really did not have any control. He
carried me through it all. He has answered prayers, and He
has shown me His peace in the midst of a storm.
Am I fearful the cancer may show up again? Yes, at times.
Then I remember where I have been and where I am going. More
importantly, I remember Who I am following! I continue to
see how God is using my experience to glorify Him. God has
placed several young women all facing similar devastating
news of cancer across my path. I am able to share with them
my experiences, my fears, my triumphs, and encourage them
through God’s love. I was also presented with the
opportunity to be interviewed on NBC about the rise of young
women being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Satan’s plan is
for us to have self-pity and feel hopeless, but God’s plan
is for us to draw close to Him so we can lead others to Him.
I do not know what my future holds.
I do not know if it will be cancer free or not. However, I
know that the greatest things that God has planned for us
are the things that we do not even know yet. We just have to
be ready to follow Him wherever our life leads us and
whatever circumstances come our way.
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