Jerry’s Greatest Challenge
8-26-2007 through 9-02-2007
Lung Cancer, the Leading Cause of Cancer Deaths
 

Editors Note:  This is the 26th   week since Jerry was diagnosed with lung cancer.  Jerry has reported each week regarding the progress, treatment, feelings, events and thoughts as he goes through this challenge. 

From Jerry:  There continues to be a lot of fatigue that changes from hour to hour.  One minute you feel on top of the world and the next minute you feel like you would be best to sit down and rest. Swelling has been a continued concern as well as my blood thickness.  I am still on pills to thin my blood.  My second Chemo treatment was administered this week with fewer side effects than last time.

About Lung Cancer:   According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths around the world claiming 1.3 million lives per year.

Nearly 60 percent of people die within a year of diagnosis.  Nearly 75 percent die within the first two years.  Only about 15 percent survive 5 years or more.

In South Carolina an estimated 3,460 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year and about 2,750 will die. 

The reason I give you these stats is to tell you how serious lung cancer can be.  Breast cancer is common however only 570 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year and the cure rate is close to 85%.

Now with statistics like these why do you think I am not concerned with whether I will survive lung cancer or not?  I will tell you after we talk about why lung cancer is so popular.

Why is lung cancer so popular?  Well in my opinion there are several reasons.  Smoking is the most obvious however second hand smoke can be very serious and radon gas is more of a problem today than ever before.

We are building our houses almost completely airtight which makes a haven for Radon gas to fill our houses.  No one can smell or detect Radon gas and it is the second leading cause of lung cancer and will become more and more serious as our houses are built tighter and tighter.

We have been told for years that the Midlands did not offer a high risk area for Radon gas however recently this has changed due to new construction methods.  I suggest you check your house for radon as soon as possible.  The test is free and should be a top priority for your home. 

Now why with statistics like I have talked about do you think I am not concerned with my recovery?

Let me tell you why.  First prayers are very important.  I believe in the power of prayer and I have more people all across America praying for me daily.

Second, I am a very positive person and the doctors told me when cancer was first discovered that 75% of surviving cancer is attitude.  Third I had a dream or vision when I was going through my PET scan immediately after we first discovered cancer back in March of this year.

Please don’t think I have stepped off a rock and hit my head. The following actually is a true story: 

When one is given a PET scan a glass of sugar and radium laced water is consumed about 30 minutes before the test.  This drink is not a drug or anything that can make you hallucinate or otherwise have dreams etc.  When I had the PET scan I was not tired, deprived of sleep or anything which could cause me to hallucinate.  I am a very logical person and I have analyzed this situation many times to determined if something I did caused this strange occurrence.  Here is what happened.

When I was being run through the cylinder for the scan I suddenly saw a glowing figure standing beside me with his hands over my chest.  This was like a dream and the figure was glowing like someone in the bright sun and it was many difference colors.  The figure did not touch me but waved his hand about 2 inches over my chest and I heard these words.

“Son, you will be healed then together we will complete my ministry”.  Then as suddenly as this figure appeared it was gone.

For those that know me they know I am not a kook or someone that has things like this happen. In fact this was the first time in my life that I have had anything like this happen and was as real as anything I have ever experienced in my life.  This made me so emotional that I could not even tell my wife Judy until several weeks later.  I could not talk about it.

I have told you in an earlier post that I feel God has a mission for me to help many others through my experiences and I feel speaking, helping and consoling others going through the same situation is my mission.  

This is the first time publically I have told this story and until now there were only 4 people that I had shared this experience with. This happened over 6 months ago and is still as vivid today as it was the day this occurred.

This is the reason I am not concerned with lung cancer.  I feel I will be OK and my course in life has been established.