Larry Burkett - Nothing to Fear: The Key to Cancer Survival

S ince I was first diagnosed with cancer in 1995 I have learned more about cancer than I ever wanted to know.

I have learned that cancer strikes both sexes and all ages, races, and typesathletes and couch potatoes. I also have learned that just about everyone knows a person with cancer. Ive learned that eating right and exercising definitely help, but they do not prevent many types of cancer. And, Ive learned that the single most important factor in cancer survival is faith. (Non-believers want to think of this as a positive mental attitude.)

There are many other important factors in the battle against cancer, as well as in other life-threatening diseases. To help others shorten the learning curve, Im going to share some of what Ive learned over the last seven years. This is, so to speak, a crash course on cancer survival.

I certainly dont pretend to be a cancer expert or health professional, but I do believe I have discovered some essential truths that make long-term survival quite possible for many people. Helen Keller, who spoke from experience, said, Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.

Bear in mind that no two people are the samechemically, physically, mentally, or otherwise. There certainly are basic similarities, and we are a lot more alike than different. But no one size fits all, and thus far there is no magic bullet for cancer. You must seek, evaluate, test, and exercise calm judgment in every situation. The Lord Jesus promises us that if we lack wisdom and we ask in faith God will provide it.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5). That principle never fails.

Thanks for allowing me to share what Ive learned. I pray it will help you, your family, or someone you know.

I n March of 1995 I was stunned to learn that I had cancer. The diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) that had metastasized (spread through the body) to my left shoulder blade.

The discovery was a shock to me, but it was a shock that started me on a journey I had never planned. And over the past several years Ive learned many things that I trust will be helpful to others. Thats the purpose of this book, but remember that it is just a guidenot a bible.

In the final analysis, no medical doctor is really responsible for your health; you are responsible for your health. Doctors may help guide, give alternatives, advise, and administer whatever therapy you choose, but its your body, and you must make the final decisions. If you forget that youre the one responsible for your own health, you can be overrun by the medical system very quickly.

The health care field has many good doctors, but you need to be aware that everyone who graduates from medical school gets an M.D. degreethose who were first in their class and also those who were last in their class. There are doctors who help and care about their patients, but there also are doctors whose patients represent little more than a days work. I know, because Ive met both kinds.

I personally flee from doctors who dont exhibit empathy for their patients. You must understand that doctors today are involved in one of the biggest and most lucrative businesses in the world. To make a profit, they are required to run their practices as businesses. To do that, doctors have to process a certain number of patients through their offices every day.

You may wait in the doctors office for two hours or longer, but you are fortunate if you can get 15 minutes of face-to-face communication with your doctor. He or she cant get a lot of information from you in 15 minutes, so your diagnosis and treatment are based on the norms. If you fit within the norms, youre in good shape. If not, youll need to look elsewherequickly.