CancerGuide: A Prayer Answering God by Goh Lye Choon

In October 1997 at age 54, I discovered that I was suffering from nose cancer. The Oncologist and nurses were puzzled as to how I came to know about the cancer. X-Ray, blood test, scanning did not show except through biopsy and laboratory test.

In late September 1997, a drop of blood was found in my mucus when I extracted it out from my nasal area and spat it out. I thought that it was due to body heat that could have caused it. After a week passed, I noticed that the drop of blood was still present when I spat the mucus from my nasal area. I was not afraid, was still very fit, and there was nothing abnormal in my health.

Though we had a registered clinic in our Company's premises with a doctor in attendance every morning and afternoon, and it was FREE to all staff, it was not my habit to consult the doctor for minor problems. After a week passed, I had this prompting from the Lord that I must consult our Company's doctor. I then consulted our Company's doctor, the Doctor gave me antibiotic capsules to be taken for a week. On completion of the antibiotic capsules, the drop of blood was still present in the mucus.

The thought of cancer was totally not in my mind then. There was this prompting again to consult another Company doctor, which I have never done before. I then consulted the other Company doctor for a second opinion, this doctor advised that I should consult an Ear Nose & Throat (ENT) Specialist at Mt. Elizabeth Hospital.

The following day I went to consult the ENT Specialist at Mt. Elizabeth Hospital as recommended. The ENT Specialist put a probe into my left nostril, he did not search for the source of cancer, he then immediately pulled the probe out. By his actions I knew he must have discovered or suspected cancer.

This ENT Specialist then advised that I go for a biopsy. Appointment was arranged for the following day at 2:00pm.

I did not want any mix up or problem to occur before, during or after my biopsy. Once a patient is put to sleep, he would not know what happens until he wakes up. e.g. wrong patient was operated on, instead of a simple biopsy of the nose, by mistake a kidney is removed instead. I did not want such things to happen to me. I prayed for God to be in total control, and blessings, wisdom, and revelation to be upon the doctors, nurses, attendants, and angels to encompass around the operating theatre.

God was in total control. See how prayers worked and God's preparation for the biopsy!

The following day at 1:30pm I went to register for the biopsy. After registration, the attendants and nurses who were wheeling the bed I was on were saying that I was late, and the two doctors were already present in the operating room waiting for me. I told them that my appointment was 2:00 p.m., there must be a mistake. I asked them if they were sure that I was the correct patient. They replied in the positive that I was the correct patient. After wheeling the bed into the operating theatre, I recognized the ENT doctor was present. He explained that the time slot for the biopsy had been changed and the ENT Clinic nurse should have informed me. So that was the problem, and I was a VIP with the two doctors waiting for me. Ha, Ha, Ha!

I was put to sleep thereafter. When I came to at about 4:45pm I was weak, dizzy and in a twilight zone. My chest was painful, had running nose similar to having a cold. I then checked the other parts of my body to confirm that the doctors hadn't not cut or removed any other parts. Confirmed nothing else missing! About 5:30 p.m., I took the MRT home.

Two days later, the report from the laboratory confirmed that the cells taken from the back of my nasal cavity were cancerous. That news was like a death sentence passed to me.

Oh God, why me? I asked. I was fit and healthy. Somehow there was this prompting within me, which said "Fear not, I am with thee" I then claimed on this promise in Isaiah 41:10, King James Version "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yes, I will help thee; yes, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

I went for radiation on the nasal area for seven weeks, daily except Saturday and Sunday. Each session took about five minutes. One minute for each point of shooting the radiation to the nasal area, I did not know how much the dosage of radiation was.

I was placed on a bed with a face shield strapped to the bed to prevent movement. After positioning the location of each point of shooting the radiation, the radiologist would then leave the room to switch on the radiation from outside the room. This process was repeated for five times for the five shots daily. I therefore had to keep very still, otherwise shooting the radiation to the nasal area would not be accurate. With both my eyes closed, I was able to see the radiation light, which looked and sounded like the electrical arc-welding.

The causation of radiation is that all the cells - good and cancerous cells would be destroyed, but the good cell would reproduce gradually. During the seven weeks radiation treatment, my salivary glands, taste buds, and vocal cords could be destroyed as well. I have been informed of some patients who did not get back their voice, and some their saliva.

After each day of radiation, my body became weaker. On the second week of treatment, I lost my sense of taste and saliva. Though I was hungry, it was difficult to eat - a drum stick tasted like plain flour mixed with water. Liquid food was tasteless, I just could not get it into my stomach. The alternative was to sleep and try to drink water. Thank God, there was no problem with my voice cord though below my chin around my throat area, the skin was as black as soot.

Every day I claimed on God's word "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yes, I will help thee; yes, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." During the seven weeks, as I went to the radiation room, I prayed to God to be with me and that the radiation would hit right on target to destroy the cancerous cells. There was no pain during the radiation, but I could smell the burning of flesh, and I would try to hold my breath to reduce movements to my body and nasal area.

During these seven weeks of treatment, God kept His promise, He was with me, I was not afraid, there was no fear, I had peace. Whilst waiting for my turn for the radiation, I was able to share with a sister in Christ who had a relapse, to have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Each morning as I took the MRT to Mt. Elizabeth for the radiation, it was as though I was going to work. After radiation, I took the MRT and went home to sleep. Why am I saying this? Because:

God was with me all the time - I was not afraid, I was not alone.
He gave me the strength. - Immediately on completion of the seven weeks of radiation treatment, I went backpacking to Changrai. (Not organized tour) I drew strength from Him. I started working again after being away from work for only three months.
He helped me all the way to recovery. After completing the seven weeks of radiation, I got my sense of taste back within three months, and my saliva within six months.

After 14 months of regular monthly check-ups and six monthly X-ray and liver scans, there was no trace of cancer found in me. I then testified that I was healed by God in homes, churches, house group gatherings, and at prayer meetings up to 18 Dec. 1998. Praise God.

What the devil tried to do

On 21 Dec 98, I went for one of my regular medical check ups, the Oncologist put a probe into my nose, said that there "was bleeding, and there was some irregularities."
He then wrote a note to my ENT Doctor asking him for his second opinion proposing for a biopsy to be carried out. He telephoned my ENT Doctor to make appointment for me immediately. - It seemed to me that he must have found something seriously wrong with me to warrant such urgency.

My ENT Doctor's Clinic was in the same building. On the way to the ENT Clinic, though I was not afraid, but I asked God, "What is this now ?" and the prompting within me said, "Fear not. Go, and you will know" by then, I arrived at the ENT Clinic.

The ENT Doctor put the probe and after checking, said that I should go for day surgery to have the biopsy carried out. Two Doctors agreeing to a biopsy. Relapse? It was scary. Don't you think so? Praise God, at that material time I did not have any fear, I was not even worried about the biopsy to be carried out, or what the result would be. It was not on my own strength I know. I drew strength from God's word "Fear not."

I was thinking to myself that since I have just got back my taste bud and saliva, though my saliva was not so much that you would need an umbrella to take cover when I talk to you, but the little saliva that I had was better than carrying a water bottle around. Furthermore, Christmas was just around the corner, it was better to enjoy the Christmas goodies before going through the biopsy again.

So I told my ENT Doctor to fix the biopsy on Monday 28/12/98 after Christmas. He agreed.

On 28/12/98 I went for the biopsy. On 30/12/98 the biopsy result was out. The result is 'Negative Malignancy", as God has promised, "Fear not. Go, and you will know" Praise the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord wants us to know that, in whatever circumstance or situation, what we see or what the doctors see, is not what we think or what the doctors think! In everything, in every circumstance, and in every situation, give praise to the Lord. God has a better purpose for us. God's ways are always higher than ours. Praise God.

Goh Lye Choon

Update: January 9, 2004

Goh Lye wrote to say, "Just to let you know that I am still living and as fit as a fiddle. Praise God"

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