This picture is a colour enhanced scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a breast cancer cell. Shows that even though we hate cancer it has a certain beauty.....It is also to show I do read scientific research, not quack health food fads. One can see it is invasive cancer, like Jan's...
Even worse, I read that one needs a clump of about a million such cells before they are visible to a CT scanner, or even more to be seen by mammogram or ultrasound. Hence some of the uncertainty in Jan's prognosis and treatment, she could have a 1 to 500,000 cell tumour remaining yet be pronounced clear.
I am still thinking about scams and quackery so read with interest the NHS online site that gives Jan the well publicised 80% chance of 5 year survival, but this drops to 70% if one looks for 10 years, and I know the 15 year prognosis of 50% that the NHS do not publicise. Yet the NHS talk of this as a cure, and have not mentioned the cancer risk from radiotherapy which typically occurs 12 years afterwards, nor that Jan could lose 15% lung capacity.
I also read about Tamoxifen, the hormone drug that Jan is on and the NHS say is stopping Jan's cancer recurring! From CNN: "the effects of hormone therapy may be limited. Most advanced hormone-sensitive cancers eventually become resistant to hormone treatment and find ways to thrive". Or Swedish research that states "These treatments are effective but patients inevitably develop hormone-resistant, invasive tumors."
Where is the quackery, in alternative medicine where Jane Plant has already survived for 20 years, or in the NHS? To be fair I do not accuse the NHS of quackery, but their statistics are in my opinion less accurate than those of sensible diet advocates such as Jane Plant.
I re read Michael Baughen's book on prayer, "Getting through to God", and got my perspective back on the sovereignty of God, how he is in control of our lives, and that death is not necessarily a failure.
He makes an interesting summary in his first chapter comparing similar incidents, and the different results:
- Paul escapes an ambush (Acts chapter 23) yet Stephen is stoned to death (Act chapter 7)
- Peter escapes from prison (Acts chapter 12) yet John the Baptist is beheaded in prison (Mark 6)
- The lame are healed by Peter (Acts chapter 3) yet Epaphroditus nearly dies from illness (Philippians chapter 2 verse 26)
- Paul raises the dead to life (Acts chapter 20) yet leaves Trophimus behind at Miletus as he is too sick to travel (2 Tomothy chapter 4 verse 20)
- James chapter 5 says "prayer of faith will save the sick" whereas Timothy is told to take a little wine for his frequent stomach ailments (1 Timothy chapter 5 verse 23)
- Jesus stills a storm (Mark chapter 4) yet Paul is shipwrecked (Acts chapter 27)
So we need ot trust in God's love, over riding compassion and goodness no matter how he answers our prayers.
An RAF chaplain once asked a pilot who was walking across the runway "Do you pray?" Yes, of course. he replied. Well Ive never seen you at my chapel services. No, Padre. I only pray when I'm flying. When I am on the ground I can cope.
Like the RAF pilot cancer has forced us back onto God
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