"Cancer Saved Your Life!"
By Joe E. Trull, Editor
Note: In response to your many cards, calls, and inquiries about my recent surgeries, this article attempts to explain and interpret these events. For your prayers and concern we are grateful.
Strange words uttered by my urologist two days after my heart by-pass surgery and one week after he had removed my prostate gland and joyfully reported only a small cancer in the gland, but none in the margins, the lymph nodes, or the seminal ducts.
However, that was just the prelude.
Let me affirm at the beginning that I am not one who identifies every act of God`s providential care as a miracle. Nor would I ever imply that God treats me differently than you or anyone else needing God`s care. Yet, as I reflect on the events leading up to my surgeries, and as I look back and connect the dots, I have no way to understand or explain the sequence of events other than the purposeful grace of God.
It began last December with a routine physical by my new GP in Denton. Every test was normal, however Dr. Moore noted a suspicious nodule on my prostate. Since my PSA score was a very safe 3.6, he assumed it might be a benign tumor. "Let`s have a urologist check this out."
A week later Dr. Wiersham examined my prostate and was surprised my GP had even noticed the area. "Probably nothing, but let`s take some biopsies just to be sure." A week later he informed me that one of twelve biopsies revealed cancer cells! Having just completed two years with Audra`s breast cancer treatments (which gave her the best possible results for no recurrence), I was a bit startled.
Conversations about options led us to decide on the removal of the prostate, with the hope that no cancer cells were outside the gland, even thought the odds of my type were about 60/40!
So, on March 28 my prostate gland was removed and on Friday the pathology report noted only one tumor one centimeter long and, no cancer in the margins, none in the lymph nodes, and none in the seminal ducts. "As far as we can tell, you are cancer free!" I was dismissed on Friday, greatly relieved and filled with gratitude to God.
However, on Saturday I ran a fever of 102 degrees. My urologist thought it was probably an infection, so he ordered antibiotics and asked me to call back in 24 hours. I had just taken the first dose, when the doctor called back and said: "I know you are 45 minutes from the hospital, but just to be safe let`s readmit you and get to the bottom of this infection."
So on Saturday evening we headed back to Baylor-Plano where we were readmitted and again took all the admission tests we had done just four days earlier.
As I completed the last test, suddenly severe pains crossed my upper back, from shoulder to shoulder. Immediately the ER realized I was having a heart attack and they began their life saving work-nitroglycerin under my tongue, heprin in my veins, and other medications designed to relieve the pain and blockage.
I was surprised and shocked because I had been told only two years ago by a cardiologist in Austin, after extensive testing, that I had a very healthy heart and no problems that he could detect.
All my life I have worked on a heart-healthy lifestyle and diet, jogging three miles a day for 25 years and staying physically fit. My new cardiologist told me later that my lifestyle probably prevented a heart problem earlier-the real culprit was genetics!
How bad was it? I later learned that the chamber called the "widowmaker" was 99% closed! "If you had experienced the attack anywhere but in this Emergency Room, you probably would not have made it!"
Before my prostate surgery I had several long conversations with God. As I told my urologist, if it is God`s will for my life to conclude, I have no regrets-my life has been filled with innumerable blessings. However, if God has more for me to do, I am also ready to stay. I was at peace, buoyed by the prayers and support of many, many friends.
That was in response to the cancer. But now I was on an ER table, as the medical team sent a scope up my artery to determine the extent of the blockage, all within minutes of the pain.
So that`s why two days after my heart surgery, my urologist exclaimed, "You could say this prostate cancer saved your life!" By that he meant, if the nodule felt by my GP had not led him to send me to a urologist, who himself was surprised to discover cancer cells in 1 of 12 biopsies, which led to the surgical removal of my prostate, would this heart condition have been discovered? My surgeon said, "Probably not! If you had this attack anywhere but in the ER room, chances are you would not be here!" Then my urologist pointed his finger skyward and said, "Blame God!" I did.
So you now understand my sense of undeserved grace and overwhelming gratitude. This whole experience has brought so many good things into our lives-I had often stood on the "outside" of intercessory prayer, but this experience put me on the "inside of prayer." I cannot describe the sense of peace and purpose I experienced, due to your prayers. For our family, this was our finest hours together-Audra and our three children were strong, supportive, towers of strength.
As strange as this may sound, facing my own mortality has been the most positive and transforming experience of my 71 years. I truly thank God for this illness-it was truly a blessing in disguise.
I now greet each new day with gratitude, hope, and purpose. I treasure family and friends more than ever before. I am learning not to sweat the small stuff and to focus on things that really count.
As I told 250 Christian Ministry students at Oklahoma Baptist University on April 23, above all for the remainder of my days I want to follow Christ-to really be a "red-letter" Christian, to join with other believers in redeeming this world as God created it to be.
So, in the words of Robert Frost, "I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep." What a journey!
