A Time of Growing Faith

During 2020 our family had a brush with Covid-19. It was a very challenging time for us, but we can testify to how our faith grew tremendously as we witnessed how God took us through the journey and healed us. We were soaked in prayer and support from family, friends and our faith community, and experienced God in a new way as a faithful God.

With that we do not say that when things go wrong He is not with us, but that He works for good for all those who love Him.

Something Was Not Right

During December 2020 I started feeling something was not right in my body. It was as if my body was signalling something, but I did not know what. Already for quite a while I had been living mainly gluten-free, as well as taking excellent supplements.

Then during January 2021 I went for a routine mammogram and when I saw my doctor afterwards, she said that it showed a suspicious abnormality which needed a biopsy.

The biopsy turned out to be a Ductal Carcinoma Grade 1 (the most common and most treatable form of breast cancer). It was 11 mm in size with clear margins (ER+, PR+, HER2-, Ki-67 index 5%).

On the positive side it was early detection, but it still left me feeling very vulnerable.

The morning before I received the results, I felt Isaiah 43:1–2 coming into my thoughts:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the waters they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

At that moment I knew in my spirit that something was wrong. It was as if God was preparing me.

Meeting the Oncologist

On the 10th of March I then had my first appointment with the oncologist at GVI Oncology.

The oncologist confirmed that it was a very early detection and said if the subsequent bone scan and CT scan were negative, as well as the sentinel lymph node biopsy in the axilla, treatment might not include chemotherapy, but anti-oestrogen therapy for five years and radiation for three weeks.

Waiting for the Results

My husband went with me for the bone scan as we had to wait for over two hours after the injection before they did the scan. We had a pancake and coffee at the café at the hospital. It was good to have the time to talk and process.

The next day I went for the CT scan.

Both turned out to be absolutely normal.

So much grace and mercy and thankfulness just filled my heart!

I read Psalm 62:5 during that morning:

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.”

All the time I had so much peace and knew that to be quiet and vulnerable before God is a concrete way of laying ALL in God’s hands and not to worry.

The shadow of the Almighty is a wonderful place to rest. To be in God’s waiting room—waiting for the scan results and also now for the lymph node biopsy—is the best place to be.

A Lifestyle Journey

This journey highlighted changes I have started making to my lifestyle over the past two years.

I have started cycling three to four times per week and also taking walks in the countryside with my husband. We have been slowly implementing a healthier lifestyle with good nutrition, enough water and fluids, drinking healthy caffeine-free teas and using some health products we discovered.

I will be writing more about that.

Our wellbeing involves our total being- our bodies, mind and spirit.

Wonderful News

The sentinel lymph node biopsy turned out clean of cancer.

Treatment will be mainly preventative.

So much to be thankful for!

Looking Ahead

I will be sharing more of this journey as we progress and some of the things we have been made aware of.

– Ilse