Cancer Freedom
one person’s journey of faith
by Beatrice Hofman Hoek
as told by Melanie Jongsma
What readers have said about Cancer Freedom—
“I just read the book today—I was too scared before. It was perfect timing and a WONDERFUL book—everyone who knows someone with cancer should read it!”
–Jan K, cancer patient
“I read this book as I was in the surgery waiting room, sitting through my husband’s cancer surgery. It was like walking with someone as they journeyed through their experience with cancer. It was good to hear the encouraging things along with the struggles. I’m planning to purchase copies to have around to give to friends who are struggling with cancer.”
–Mary J, administrator
“This story is from one who has been there, through the dark valley and the uncertain future. I wish it had been available when our family was experiencing these depths several years ago.”
–Alexander D, author
“One of the difficulties that I encountered in searching for reading material while I suffered with cancer is that much of it is so superficial that it lacks the candor and honesty that this book includes. I’ve been through the experience of dealing with cancer three times in my own life, and I found much in this small book that is realistic, practical, and helpful.”
–Howard V, pastor
“I was impressed with the strength of the writing.”
–Betty D, editor
“What Bea and Melanie have produced here should really be a great help to a lot of people.”
–Bill V, professor
Cancer Freedom
one person’s journey of faith
by Beatrice Hofman Hoek
as told by Melanie Jongsma
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2009, by Melanie Jongsma
This book is also available as a paperback from Amazon.com.
Scripture quotations marked “NIV” are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Quotations marked “KJV” are from the King James Version, public domain.
Melanie Jongsma has helped other people share their stories—to view samples, visit http://lifelinespublishing.net/bookstore/. If you’d like help sharing your own story, email Melanie at lifelinespublishing@gmail.com.
Smashwords Edition, License Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Contents
Foreword by Rev Joel Nederhood
Introduction by Dr Nicholas Vogelzang
1—A Glimpse of How It All Turns Out
2—A Normal Life
3—The Shock of Diagnosis
4—Responding
5—The Journey Begins
6—That Doesn’t Mean It’s Easy
7—Not a Lonely Battle
8—Kind Words from a Friend
9—Fighting Back
10—What Can Family and Friends Do?
11—Depression
12—Brought Low
13—Scenes from the Radiation Waiting Room
14—The Problem with Support Groups
15—Setback
16—Finding Freedom
17—God’s Answer
18—Living with Uncertainty
19—Easter
20—Thank You, Lord
Dedication
To Jim, whose faith, love and compassion encouraged me daily
and my children, parents, and friends, whose love made me want to live
BHH
To my mother—who always tells me I can do it
and my father—who always tells me not to argue with my mother
MJ
Foreword
THOSE OF US WHO KNOW BEA HOEK are pleased that she has taken the time to share her cancer experience with a broader circle. This brief and touching book will enable many to benefit from the way she has handled the terror and depression that accompany the cancer battle. Each of the diseases we are prey to has its characteristic impact on its victims. Heart patients are often quite tense and even rebellious because their disease requires that they change their lifestyle. Cancer patients, in contrast, seem to develop a resignation, even a sweetness about themselves. The disease of cancer requires those who have it to think totally differently about their bodies than they did before. It's not just that one organ is diseased, but cancer serves notice that the entire organism is fundamentally flawed. Cancer announces that these precious bodies of ours cannot cope with whatever it is that is causing cell growth to run amok. It is very, very humiliating. Even embarrassing.
Bea Hoek talks about this. And she talks about the loneliness. It is a peculiar kind of loneliness, experienced, in her case, while her husband and children and church family loved and cared for her. It is the loneliness that comes from realizing that you must carry on the battle all by yourself.
In this book we learn that the cancer experience has its good side. For Bea Hoek it brought her to the point of total surrender, a surrender that enables her now to deal with her enemy's reappearance. Currently her battle is going well, and she has reason to hope for the future. But it is very unsettling to live with this uncertainty.
And cancer patients realize that the uncertainty that never leaves them is really the way it is for everyone. There is no place of certain refuge this side of glory. Bea learned that one fateful day in October, and she has learned her lesson well.
A cancer patient finally comes to the place where his or her hope is in God and God alone. And, of course, that is where it should be for all of us—all the time.
For believers, the good side of cancer is that it brings them to that strange and wonderful place where they discover that God perfects his strength in their weakness. They learn to be thankful and happy even when November days are repeatedly without sunshine.
Those of us who know Bea Hoek are grateful for the testimony that follows and join together in prayer that God will continue to give her the splendor of his victory. We know he will.
Rev. Joel Nederhood
Director of Ministries, Emeritus
The Back to God Hour/Faith 20
Introduction
I AM BEA'S DOCTOR. I just finished reading her manuscript, and I am proud to be part of Bea's life. I am proud because Bea has taught me much about how a Christian (a deeply committed, vibrant, and emotional Christian) fights cancer. I am proud because Bea is alive and possibly free of cancer. I am proud because the treatments have allowed her to maintain her body image, in spite of the scars. I am proud because she has grown in faith and strength, and she has been an example to those around her (especially to those of us who knew her when we were both younger).
In other ways, though, I feel embarrassed and awkward. I am embarrassed because Bea has reminded me that I am not always the best doctor I can be; sometimes I am cross, arrogant, or too busy. Sometimes I am skeptical when I should be supportive. And sometimes I am just plain wrong. For example, I look back at the use of prednisone for Bea's breast cancer in 1983, and I realize now that the medicine probably wasn't necessary. It certainly contributed significantly to her emotional swings and some of the other side effects.