The story of a breast cancer patient
Be “a Comforter” to others
Article: Lucy Yang, American Herald Cancer Society, USA
In December 1987, I was told I had breast cancer and had to undergo surgery and treatment. In January 1988, I came across a spiritual article ” Springs in the Desert”:
“The world is full of people who need to be comforted. If you want to be an angel to comfort others, you must be trained or suffer for it. For the price of this training is great; you have to personally taste the pain, the tears and the hurt, only then your life will become a healing room where you can learn the art of comfort.
You yourself must first be wounded so that while the great physician washes, disinfects, anoints, and bandages your wounds, you will learn the art of caring. “
Are you wondering why you are going through a peculiar moment of sadness? You might not understand the reason until ten years later after you have met many who had suffered the same. As you testify your pain and share your experience, you will help to heal them just as God had healed you.
It was then that you will understand why you have suffered so much in the past, and you will thank God for the training by giving you this experience.
So, I dry my tears, face the big test of life, after surgery, chemotherapy, reconstruction, and defeat my stage 2 breast cancer! However, I have never forgotten my wish to be a “comfort messenger”. In 1992, when the American Cancer Society in New York was founded, I moved to Southern California in 2002 and founded the Herald Cancer Society under the name of the Christian Herald Mission.
In 2003, I was diagnosed again with an early stage of breast cancer in another breast. This time I was not afraid, because I had acquired enough knowledge to know that I only need local excision and radiotherapy. I was amazed to find out that my two cancer treatments were totally different. Now armed with the two accumulated treatment experiences, I can help others in different conditions.
It has been 25 years since I am serving the Chinese cancer community in the United States. Breast cancer for me is not a curse, it is a blessing! It has made my life more fulfilling and meaningful, and I have become a “comforter ” for many fellow patients.