My Response to "Fighting Cancer"

I've had a tough time of knowing how to respond when people tell me to fight this cancer. First of all, how do you fight cancer? With a Stage IV diagnosis of invasive metastatic breast cancer, I can't have surgery to get rid of it all. I don't believe I can eat my way to health. I can't walk it off or wish it away. I can't actively do anything. Other than getting chemo and doing my best to stay healthy, there is nothing that I can do to fight.

I think I understand the intentions behind "fighting cancer." No one wants to see cancer take over my body, cause me harm, or end in death. People want to see cancer knocked down into nonexistence in my body and that would show that I have "fought" and "conquered" cancer.

I'm fighting cancer with what my dear sister has termed as chemo-prayer-apy. It's a combination of:
1. chemotherapy: harsh drugs to kill fast growing cells as they try to divide and conquer in my body
2. prayer: and lots of it by many people... way more powerful than any drug or anything else we can discover or imagine
3. therapy: taking care of myself... body, mind and soul

But... I can get chemo, pray, and take care of myself and cancer could still ravage my body. So this is how I'm responding to the people who love me dearly and want to encourage me to never quit fighting cancer:

Dear Friend,

I'm doing well right now. Prayer & chemo are helping me a lot. I will continue to do what I can to try get rid of this cancer. I have an amazing husband and precious son.

But... the most important thing is how I live my life... not how many years. God has allowed breast cancer to be a part of my story. Like everyone else, I can choose to focus my life on Him or my circumstances. No matter how my story ends, I want people to see that my life has been about Jesus in me (and not cancer in me).

Thank you for loving me & supporting me. Please say hi to everyone & give them a big hug from me!

Krista