Breast Cancer Awareness: You're in My Prayers

Even for someone as young as I am, the word cancer is frequent among daily conversations - often under dark and depressing contexts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer was the second most common cause of cancer-deaths for woman in 2005 and it killed over 40,000 mothers, wives, daughters and sisters. In the presence of such a frightening disease, it's easy to feel helpless at the prospect of a hopeless future. Although technology has enabled new treatments that have drastically increased survival rates for breast cancer, we continue to mourn the death of tens of thousands women at the hands of this abomination.

About 2 years ago, I personally came within a hair's breadth of experiencing this tragedy in my own family. My stepmother, who had recently gotten together with my father, alerted us that a recent MRI scan had revealed a lump-like substance in one of her breasts. She would not discuss it at length in order to avoid causing me and my stepbrother unnecessary worries, but the fear that arose from that slight possibility that she may have cancer was enough to provoke great fear in my heart. Fortunately, the initial discovery in the MRI scan was dismissed as a false alarm and she was allowed to continue her life by the grace of God.

As the example shows, I actually have a fairly small amount of experience in dealing with cancer, much less with breast cancer. However, what I do recognize is the fear and anxiety that it can create in families. I also see the strength of women that are diagnosed with breast cancer - they fight against great odds to hold onto their loved ones. It's a great challenge, and it is truly breathtaking to hear the stories of women that are able to overcome it. Even from those that are not able to survive, the great tales of their struggles provide hope for thousands of others.

Cancer is a debilitating disease, and breast cancer can come to create tremendous tragedies in families. I am a fairly young man, and I'm honestly not sure what I could do to contribute in this battle against breast cancer. If I was in an advantageous position to be able to help those that are suffering, I would not give a second thought in taking action. But I realize that the possibilities of what I can do are somewhat limited. But I also know that I have the power to present an amazing gift to those that are suffering - my prayers.

As October (national breast cancer awareness month) approaches, I feel as though I am being called to do the following; to pray for the women that are struggling against breast cancer and their families. It may seem like little, but I believe that prayers are able to do wondrous works through God's power. This may not be something that everyone may do, since we can all believe in different things, or nothing at all. But I do believe that the idea behind my prayers, remembrance of these struggling individuals, is something that we can all come to practice.

So the next time that we have a few minutes to sit down and think about things, maybe we can lift up these brave individuals. As they continue in their fight against this daunting illness, something that all of us can do is to keep them in our thoughts and prayers. We may not all pray to the same God or gods, but it's hard to believe that there's anybody out there who would not want to see these women come out victorious.

Through this simple piece of writing, I'll begin my own personal honoring of the individuals that are fighting breast cancer and also for the individuals that have survived:

- Mothers, sisters, wives, aunts, grandmothers and all of the great women, I pray to God that He will watch over you and your families. May God lift you up in times of need and provide you with great blessings. Thank you for the great inspirations you provide for us. Your strong wills, great determinations and tender smiles bring joy and hope into my heart. Thank you.

CDC breast cancer statistics - http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/