Channeling Your Faith
- It's a faith-filled holiday weekend! Some are observing Good Friday in preparation for the Easter holiday on Sunday, while others are starting their Passover celebrations.
- While these holidays remind us to focus on our spiritual rebirth and renewal regardless of what holiday you and your family celebrate faith is important to many beyond these holidays, especially those going through cancer.
- A 2015 National Health Interview Survey found that 69% of cancer patients reported praying for their health compared to 45% of the general United States population.
While these holidays remind us to focus on our spiritual rebirth and renewal regardless of what holiday you and your family celebrate faith is important to many beyond these holidays, especially those going through cancer.
Read MoreRelated: The Triumph of Hope & Faith Renewed Why Easter is So Heartfelt for Cancer Survivors
'Faith, Family and Friends' Helped Beverly Reeves Get Through Ovarian Cancer Treatment
"This is the diagnosis that lasts forever," Beverly Reeves previously told SurvivorNet of her ovarian cancer diagnosis. "You're always waiting for the next shoe to drop."
Ovarian cancer survivor Beverly Reeves discusses the importance of faith.
As she navigated through treatment, she said she leaned on three pillars for support: faith, family, and friends.
Though her faith remained a constant, her family and friends became less of a presence once she completed her initial treatment. Reeves said she needed their support at the end of her cancer battle just as much as she did when she was diagnosed.
Looking back on her cancer journey, Reeves said she had some advice for those who are newly diagnosed: Don't be embarrassed.
This is a cancer that not a lot of people want to talk about," she added.
Being open and honest with your loved ones about what you're going through can help them understand exactly what support you need, so they can provide it.
"Get a strong support group together," she said. "Get your close friends. If you're connected to a faith community, get your faith community, and get your family. Let them know what's going on and let them help you."
Faith Perspective: Opening Yourself Up to Others After a Cancer Diagnosis
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a devastating thing. There is no sugarcoating that fact. Hearing such hard news has a tendency to make people want to shut down.
Pastor Tom Evans talks about how channeling your faith can help you open up, rather than shut down, after a cancer diagnosis.
However reiterating ovarian cancer survivor Beverly Reeves' message Tom Evans, pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church located in the Carnegie Hill neighborhood of New York City, previously told SurvivorNet that it's during this time that you should try to do the opposite. And channeling your faith, especially this holiday season, can help you open up.
“It’s important to reach out in a simple prayer to God; even if you have never prayed before, you don’t know what to say, a heartfelt plea, “God, help me, be with me,” Pastor Evans previously told SurvivorNet.
You can reach out to God, and you can reach out to people, your friends and family, and say, I can’t do this on my own. I need you,” he added. “It’s in that willingness to be open and to receive that we can actually find something deeper that we never would encounter without this hardship.”
Pastor Evans continued, “This is what is so powerful about times of hardship.”
“You think cancer … (is) simply going to be a devastating time,” he added, but in those moments, sometimes you discover how wonderful humanity is. We spend so much time watching the news, and we become so disillusioned with people, but it’s in hardship, it’s in cancer … that suddenly you feel that people are glorious.”
“I truly believe what Paul says: God uses all things for good,’ and God can even use these terrible things, such as a cancer diagnosis … to help you discover the wonder and glory of life and the wonder of the gift of others,” Pastor Evans said.
My Faith Has Been Very Important: Louisville Ovarian Cancer Survivor Monica Layton’s Story
Ovarian cancer survivor Monica Layton is another cancer warrior who leaned on faith to get her through her cancer battle.
Ovarian cancer survivor Monica Layton discusses the importance of faith when fighting cancer.
She previously told SurvivorNet of her church congregation that helped her both spiritually and physically as she battled cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her church also aided in her recovery after treatment.
“(I’ve) gone to the same church for a long time, so it’s like another family that really supports me,” Layton said. We were Episcopalian, and when I was having surgery, my priest came to the hospital and stayed and prayed with my family the whole time. “It was a long surgery. And then he came back to the hospital every day to pray with me.”
In addition to praying for her, Layton’s church congregation sent flowers, cards, and a prayer blanket and often visited her.
“They were so kind,” Layton said. “I think my faith has been very important, crucial for me’ just the prayer really helps, I think.”
Contributing: Stephanie Watson
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.