Two month ago I visited the skin cancer clinic having a vague suspicion that a sore on my head was not “nothing to worry about” as a GP had told me some months before. The doctor confirmed verbally that day that the sore was most definitely a skin cancer but was small (approx 5mm x 6mm) and that he could remove it at the clinic in a fortnight’s time.
A fortnight later I went back to have it removed, only to have him say that it was much larger (2 x 3cm) and ulcerated and he was unable to remove and would need to refer to a surgeon to have it removed in hospital. He took a biopsy and the results came back as a BCC (the least invasive of skin cancers) but it was nearly full thickness through the skin. He warned me that it was awkward surgery due to the location and depth of the cancer and that I would need to have part of my head shaved.
I had to wait another 2 weeks to see the surgeon at a private clinic. This seemed to be the most excruciating wait and I went through some dark and lonely days. I was so confronted with the diagnosis of a skin cancer at age 33 particularly I think because my mother had died from cancer at a young age and the “C” word put such a great fear in me! The other confronting fact was having to have part of my head shaved for this surgery...vain I know but true!
But God is good. He blessed me with wonderful friends and family who surrounded me with prayer and practical support. Two friends lent me CD’s with worship songs* that helped me immensely. My mother-in-law had also bought us a book on her last visit that had sat on the shelves – but I picked it up and started reading and absorbing the words. This book^ by Joseph Prince spoke so deeply to me that the fear vanished and was replaced with peace – the peace that surpasses understanding! And I had such a new revelation that God is for us not against us, His Grace is sufficient for me, He turns all things to good – I could go on and on!
Well, the day of the consultation with the surgeon drew near and my husband was able to come with me. On examination the surgeon said “this tumour is not as big as the other doctor said – it must have shrunk!” (Kieren saw it on both occasions and can vouch that it did indeed shrink!) So the surgeon was able to remove the tumour THAT DAY in the private clinic rather than having to go to an operating theatre. He said that it was about the maximum size that he would ever remove without going to theatre due to risk of bleeding. But praise God I had less bleeding than from the biopsy! I was a little concerned that the surgeon didn’t get all the cancer cells but should have realised I didn’t need to worry – I received the all clear on Monday! So I still have to wear a head covering but my hair is growing back so fast soon it won’t be noticeable!
*“Beautiful” by Kari Jobe and “Healer” by Mike Gugliamucci
^ “Destined to Reign” by Joseph Prince
