Cancer Journey Sharing of Rowena Magpoc

Cancer Journey Sharing – Rowena Magpoc

Early 2019, I had noticed a slight bukol on the left side of my neck but did not think much of it until an increasing number of friends also noticed it and encouraged me to go for a check-up. I put it off for a few months and when I finally visited an EENT, I was ordered to have a nasal endoscopy and biopsy. I was somewhat fearful while waiting for the results but was thankful that it was found to be benign. I even bought ice cream for my office to celebrate the results. To account for the mass in my neck though, I was ordered to take a TB skin test and with this turning up positive, I began taking medicines for tuberculosis. However, after a few months, I noticed that the bukol had become bigger. I went back to the doctor for follow up check-up and when I discerned how surprised and even afraid he was, I decided to go to another doctor for second opinion. The new doctor ordered a lot of tests and procedures including biopsy, CT scan, blood test, ultrasound; after I completed all of them and brought back the results to the doctor ~ the bukol was found to have malignant cells and the diagnosis was thyroid cancer. This was last February 13, 2020 and I think the reality has not sunk in yet as I still went back to the office that day to finish a meeting.

After this, I again went through a series of procedures as preparation for surgery which was the prescribed treatment. I also had to consult with several other doctors for clearance since I was hypertensive. There was also that decision point on the surgeon who would perform the procedure, what hospital and when. Through the Lord’s providential hand and sovereign care, I was scheduled for a total thyroidectomy with neck dissection by Dr. Reynaldo Joson in Manila Doctors Hospital last March 4. I was admitted in the hospital in March 3, I was in surgery for 7 hours the next day and by March 7 I was back home to recover and recuperate. I am truly grateful that there were no infections, complications or any other adverse effects from taking out the mass and thyroid. Ideally, I would have undergone the Radioactive Iodine treatment as well, just a few weeks after my surgery but the COVID19 lockdown made matters complicated. However, after the determination that RAI is needed after a follow up CT scan in July, Dr. Joson connected me to an endocrinologist that can take my case and facilitate the treatment. I completed the RAI procedure in the first week of August with Dr. Guillermo Manalo at the National Kidney Transplant Institute. I went for total body scan after 7 days and have been going for monthly blood tests as monitoring for thyroid hormone levels. I praise and thank the Lord that after each blood test there is that desired decrease and my prayer is that it will continue to be that way until the target level is achieved.

Well, this is the summary version of what has transpired in my life relating to disease that was discovered in me. Infused in these events though were a lot of tears, prayers, more tears and displays of God’s manifold grace over me. Just recounting them leaves me overwhelmed and in awe of His goodness. Let me honor the Lord by declaring that He stood by His Word that He gave to me in Isaiah 41:10 ~

Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

For truly I encountered many fears in the course of my journey with cancer. I was confronted with my mortality with what I felt was my possible imminent death and was brought to a place of serious consideration of my eternal destination. Though I had professed to know God and follow Him, I had to take stock of my life and assess my standing with my Lord and my Creator. It is through wrestling with God in prayer that I confessed to Him my sins and received the forgiveness made available by what the Jesus Christ has done on the cross. I fully entrusted and surrendered my life to the Lord Jesus as my savior, submitting to whatever He wills for all the aspects of my life. It was then that I was granted peace with the living hope - that in this life and even after death - I am loved and accepted by God, and I will be welcomed by Him in His heavenly kingdom.

As I continued to process and reflect on this ongoing journey; I have been led to realize how the Lord is truly good and gracious, how He is truly near and active in the life of His children. He is there in the big things and He is present in small details as well, bestowing much blessing despite and even through the illness. It has been and continues to be an exercise in faith and trust as I behold God’s help, guidance and provision for each step of the way - from diagnosis to treatment and beyond. This is especially manifested in the love and support received from my family, friends, my church and spiritual community. I am humbled and overwhelmed by the prayers, messages, words of encouragement, advice, financial help and acts of service offered during this time especially with the pandemic. If not for the cancer, I may have continued to take all this goodness and means of grace for granted.

I am also thankful that somehow, this episode allowed for a re-set or re-calibration as I was forced to review what was actually important in life. I would have to admit that I would not consider myself to be a very good steward of the body, the life and gifts that have been entrusted to me. It is true that I lacked mindfulness and intentionality, often just allowing the waves of life to take and toss me. By God’s grace, I was able to institute some changes in how I lived my life by being more intentional in the aspects of my physical, emotional, relational, mental and spiritual well-being. These include eating healthier, exercising more, managing work stress, spending time/ communicating with loved ones, learning new hobbies and skills, stewarding finances, dealing with emotional baggage, having times of silence and solitude as well as prioritizing prayer and reading/meditating on the Word of God. I may still falter and sometimes fall back into old ways and habits but I continue to press on and cling to the Lord’s enabling.

With all these come the ever- deepening appreciation of the beauty and power of communion with God and His Word. Through the uncertainties, fearful situations and dark nights, it has proved to be a sure and steady anchor for the soul. The Lord’s promises have lent comfort, peace and light, calming the anxieties and distresses. I cannot imagine going through this journey without His being my refuge and rock. Truly He has shown Himself sufficient for all my needs and worthy of my trust. May prayer is that He will continue to sustain me and those like me as we move forward with our journey….

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?”

³⁵ “Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”

³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:33-36