“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

According to the American Cancer Society’s report entitled “Breast Cancer Facts and Figures 2011-2012”, “the seriousness of invasive breast cancer is strongly influenced by the stage of the disease; that is, the extent or spread of the cancer when it is first diagnosed”. My friend, Pat Johnson, was initially diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, the most serious and invasive. The cancer quickly spread to her spine. Her prognosis was grim. But today, Pat is cancer-free and thriving!

In her book, A Walking Miracle, Pat attributes her miraculous healing to faith in God and the support of her friends, family, and church. A year ago, Pat started a small group at Trinity Church called Tenaciously Pink for breast cancer survivors. On September 28th, I participated in the group’s 1st Annual Tenaciously Pink Cancer Walk. Men and women, breast cancer survivors, breast cancer patients, and their loved ones walked to raise awareness about breast cancer and to agree in faith that those suffering from breast cancer would be healed. It was a great morning.

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2013. And the chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer during her life is about 1 in 8. That’s shocking to me. The best form of early detection is a monthly breast self-exam.

If you are a woman, do you regularly give yourself a breast self-exam?

(I took these pictures of Pat, Hernite, Stephan, and Alex at the 1st Annual Tenaciously Pink Cancer Walk at Trinity Church in Miami Gardens, Florida on September 28, 2013.)