It is projected that in 2026, approximately 2,114,850 people will hear words that send a shock wave through your soul. You have cancer. It is also projected that there will be 626,140 cancer deaths.1 Even though the cancer mortality rate continues to decline, the numbers are still way too high.
In this year, the cancer expected to be diagnosed the most is breast cancer, followed by prostate, lung, colon, bladder/kidney, and lymphoma.2 Early detection is the best means of beating cancer. Many, though, will not get tested.
Today is National Cancer Survivor Day, started on June 5, 1988. It is a day to bring awareness to those who have been given the news, to support and encourage those fighting, and to celebrate those who have won or are winning the fight. The day also reminds us that 30% will not survive and there are those grieving.
Every cancer diagnosis is different. So is the reaction to the diagnosis. I knew mine was caught early. In fact, I already knew in my heart what the diagnosis was even before the doctor said the words. I also knew that for a guy, if you must have cancer, this is one of the best ones to get. My wife initially took the news hard but quickly composed herself and we prepared ourselves to do whatever was necessary. Honestly, I wasn’t afraid or worried. I had a peace that it was going to be alright. I just wanted to get on with it and get the surgery done because I had too much to do to be laying around, recuperating. Summer was coming and lawns were going to need mowed!
That’s me. That’s my story. It’s how I handled it. But everyone is different and being told you have brain cancer is on a whole different level than being told you have prostate cancer. Big difference, so a big difference in handling the news is expected. Same would be true if the doctor says incurable vs. curable. Nobody can say that their reaction to the news is the right reaction because we are all different and there are many variables to take into
account.
We have many reading this who have been on the cancer journey. You had your own feelings and emotions when you were diagnosed. Your treatments may have been gentle, or they may have nearly sucked the life out of you, leaving you sicker than you could possibly imagine.
I write this on this day of celebration to remind us that cancer fighters and survivors are all around us. They supply us with great opportunities to be a help and blessing in their time of need.
If you are a fighter or survivor, let me encourage you with some Scripture today.
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts (plans) that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Isai
ah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
1https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.3322/caac.70043
2https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2026/2026-cancer-facts-and-figures.pdf
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