OPINION ABOUT HEALING

Along this difficult journey, I have experienced rejection from people that I have regularly come in contact with.  I am sure some people decided to avoid me as a form of 'I really don't know what to say' thought decision.  This is common and I really don't blame anyone for that approach.  My advice for everyone is if you find it too upsetting to approach someone with illness and/or disability (to the point of feeling uncomfortable about it) - it is probably best to walk away for both parties involved.

  However, there is a second party of person that deliberately assumes (from religious teaching or from misguided popular opinion) that your illness and/or disability, must be caused from either:

• Lots of sin & poor religious judgement.
• Failure to forgive others.
• Failure to keep the commandment of love.
• Lack of Knowledge & lack of vision.
• Lack of discernment of the Lord's body when taking communion.
• Lack of integrity in your heart.
• God's healing power has short-circuited in their lives, due to some or all the above.

ALSO MIXED IN WITH -

•  This person must have alot of bad luck.
• They must have done something terrible to deserve this.
• Maybe their forefathers did something horrible.
• 'What goes around comes around'.

In terms of religious perception and why someone ends up with an illness and/or disability - some scriptures may be used to qualify the theory that someone with illness and/or disability is being punished for what they continue to do in their everyday lives to bring on 'judgement' or 'bad luck/karma', etc.  However, my firm belief (in relation to the character of God) is that He is a loving, forgiving God who does sometimes allow us to go through hardships. 

It seems in every society, there exists a notion that the reason someone is ill and/or disabled is simply because the afflicted person has major problems with their soul/spirit or mind and that they are the cause of their own problem.   This includes belief that when seeking healing from God, one must keep quiet about one's illness and/or disability - as speaking about it or or not 'keeping our tongue' in line will cause greater problems with one's illness and/or disability.

Some groups believe that other believers are decieved to think that God can use bad situations, terrible situations to benefit His kingdom and His people.  That bad situations (in health or other) do not have the purpose to teach and grow and move.  The belief also goes on to purport if you are not being physically healed you have a 'blockage' in various areas - 'because, God wants to physically heal everyone' and if the problem is not God (and it's can't be, as God is perfect) - then it must be you.

 I completely disagree - this logic is so, so, so wrong and so cruel.  I doubt if anyone upholding this form of opinion would think that same thing, if they too were in the same boat, if they had a disease or disability that they were not having success in healing medically, either in their physical or mental state.

I BELIEVE THAT THE CORE OF GOD IS (AND SHOULD BE REFLECTED AS) EMPATHY FOR THOSE THAT SUFFER.

  For example, anyone who has a 'bad' circumstance happen to them, whether health or other - should not have judgement cast at them - but rather kindness and love.  The mental state of anyone also dealing with 'bad' circumstances must also be taken into account and the possibility of this judgement causing further mental trauma to the judged.   How does this type of teaching impact on the mental health of those being told they have a 'blockage' - I run from it - however, I also pray for those that believe this.

All of this deliberate assumption above is simply NOT true - whether from a religious or non-religious mind.  In all of this perception - we need to stop and ask ourselves 'what is our personal belief system about God & Goodness'?  Personally, I believe in Jesus Christ - I do not believe He came into this world and went through a terrible death for nothing - He died for our sin & our disease (physical & mental).  I believe God allows illness and/or disability for reasons, we may never understand on this earth.

With all of man's accumulated knowledge, through medical science about why our human bodies do what they do or why disease behaves in such a way - we still don't have all the answers.  I believe that our feeble human minds will often try to find ways (using popular perception or even scripture) to explain away or quantify 'the unknowns' about why some people have incredible healings and why some do not.  Our brains simply can't take the fact that disease and illness/disability can happen to anyone, at anytime for a variety of physical reasons, including random damage from viruses, DNA injury, acquired disability or even disability/disease we may be born with. 

I truly believe that knowledge is power, power is knowledge and ignorance comes from a lack of knowledge.  So, in conclusion (& my firm opinion is), illness and/or disability today is NOT caused by spiritual problems/bad luck or karma.  NOT AT ALL and telling anyone who has such an affliction is a cruel thing to do to anyone.  RATHER, if you don't understand why someone has an illness/disability, make sure you EDUCATE yourself on the disease and/or the disability and understand the everyday suffering and difficulties that person must endure.  Remember, we may never understand why we have to endure these things on earth, but I believe that God is in control, regardless. 

Valuable Links: www.farese.com & www.restministries.com

 "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do."

An email to Jodie from a prominent pastor in Australia:

Hi Jodie,

 Thanks for your email.

Yes, I do understand your point about Denomination 01/Denomination 02.  Denomination 01 generally have a strong theology of healing, but a weak theology of suffering. There have been huge changes in thinking over recent years, but we have a long way to go. You’re right, people often don’t know what to say to people with long-term, major health challenges.  They simplistically (and naively) attribute it to the devil or some ‘cause’ in your own life (i.e. sin, unforgiveness) and don’t fully appreciate that sickness, health, suffering and wholeness are very complex areas.  There are no formulas.  Often there aren’t answers.  Some things are unexplainable and inexplicable.  The ONLY sure thing is that God is good, God is faithful and God is with you throughout the ordeal. Aside from the reality of God’s character everything else in a mystery.

I am really pleased you found a community of people who provide the level of support you need.

 What you feel ‘deep down’ is what you and everyone around you must hold on to ferociously. We’re standing with you also.

 Blessings on you all, too.

 Pastor B.

COMPLIMENTARY OR ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES FOR CANCER PATIENTS: A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE.

Warning: if you are a cancer patient & wish to consider using/taking ANY complementary or alternate therapies, always speak with your Oncologist or Heamotologist first.  Some complementary or alternate practices/drugs may be a dangerous mix with your current therapies. 

You could not choose a more complex & difficult subject to discuss & write about than alternate & complementary therapies for cancer paitients.  It's a massive issue to analyze, discuss & consider with clinicians, patients, friends & family alike.  Everyone seems to have an opinion about this.  For a cancer patient, the choice of whether to touch this subject & try alternate or complementary therapies, is a big decision.  Some cancer patients have always sought other therapies, (both pre & post diagnosis) so, the choice is much more clear cut & obvious.  For myself, (pre-diagnosis) I sought the assistance of two alternate therapists, prior to finding the real sorce of my health problems.  Before I started to experience symptoms, I stayed well away from non-mainstream therapies for any health problem. 

Once I realised GP doctors would not resolve some of my medical issues & pain, I presented to 2 of these therapists, really out of desparation.  My situation was that I was subjected to medical negligence from the beginning of my search for assistance & therefore as the cancer spread & caused damage, my pain increased.  Of course, all advice points to which alternate therapist you need to visit to 'fix the problem'.  When several doctors, including specialists have told you there is nothing wrong & possibly your a Hypochondriac - you do what you can, with all your current knowledge.

Whilst searching for answers and pain relief is but a dream, your frustration & despair is usually a private turmoil that no-one close-by can really, truly understand.  Trying to find a mystery diagnosis is a very lonely journey indeed.  After diagnosis, I knew then the root cause of all my health issues was Lymphoma & not the various causes, as told to me by the two alternate therapists.  Therefore, from that point on, I had been witness first-hand to the industry of complementary & alternate therapies.  For those seeking relief from the mild everyday health concerns we all encounter, this group of industries work on the concern and sometimes fear of health consumers.  The fear I speak about is often used to drive these businesses.  i.e: if you don't do this monthly, take this everyday -- you'll end up like this.  Often pictures & video are provided to the potential customer to prove the claims of some therapists.

When many people take up complementary therapies, they are often searching, in an emotional state & looking for answers to pain or health discomforts.  Having someone agree & tell you they understand, is a great incentive to return.  In conclusion, many alternate (non-mainstream) health avenues were set up as a business to make money, to prosper the business owner and his/her stakeholders.  The same may be said for some standard forms of western/mainstream medicine, although many doctors go into health to help people & most of them do just that.

However, the huge difference between the two is that the majority of mainstream/hospital medicines & clinicians work to heal and fix, aiming for a fast & final goal, whereas a good deal of complementary & alternate therapies, require the user or purchaser to continue returning over & over.  Purchasing continually a product or service, as its main drive to fund its claims and continue it's revenue.  Many people are tricked into thinking that many of these therapists are here to help & they care about me.  The bottom line is often the bottom line and that is often in the form of revenue.

However, there is no question that the value of complementary therapies for some cancer patients, can be significant, if they make the cancer patient feel 'in control' or 'proactive' over their disease.  Complementary therapies can be quite useful and some are endorsed by alot of mainstream medicine clincians, whilst undergoing the correct hospital treatments.  The main concern is the usage of a cancer patients need to be cured, as a way of selling products to patients and ceasing hospital based medications, when doing so may not be in the best interests of the patient.

It's a very personal decision.

OUR LOCAL PHARMACY, A GOLDEN GEM.

Warning: If you are a cancer patient & wish to use pharmacy based herbs/vitamins/minerals or supplements to assist your recovery or current disease, always advise your doctor what you are taking, as recomended by your pharmacist.

  Other than the clinically trialed & proven drugs available & prescribed to you by your doctor, there are many, helpful & powerful herbs/vitamins/minerals or supplements available over the counter that can assist a cancer patient, with a variety of problems that come with post diagnosis & post chemo daily life.  The golden gem that we all take for granted on most of our street corners is our pharmacies. In many pharmacies, as well as the prescription medications from your Oncologist and/or Heamotologist, there are a huge amount of safe & helpful herbs/vitamins/minerals & supplements that can assist with common difficulties associated with cancer & treatments for cancer. 

The drugs given to many cancer paitients in hospital Oncology/Heamotology day clinics to destroy cancer cells, have diverse & difficult side effects that can leave us fatigued, in pain or experiencing a range of (sometimes odd) physical effects, post chemo. Some of these post chemo symptoms may go away after a couple of months, some take years to disappear & unfortunetly those of us who have had massive amounts of chemo, may experience post chemo symptoms, in the long term.

This is not to say that as cancer patients we should give up on seeking to feel energetic and 'normal' again (as many of us did pre-disease).  I am not endorsing some products or schemes that charge hundreds/thousands of dollars for programmes of vitamins/herbal remedies that claim to cure or remove cancer.  There are plenty of these around.  Most of the people selling these products know little (if anything) about the complex world of Oncology and/or Heamotology.   

There are many people from both medicine/pharmacuticals & complementary/alternate therapy industies, making massive money from cancer & all that surrounds the fight.  The only way many of us will win the cancer battle is through the chemotherapy drugs in our Oncology wards that save lives every day. Traditional chemotherapy drugs, as offered in most hospitals throughout the world, have saved many lives, including my own.  

Then again many of us who have a deep faith in a God who loves us & wants to heal us, will find physical, mental & emotional healing from this disease & its onslaught, either here on earth or in heaven.  We are all seeking a miracle & some certainly know that prayer & faith are often the key to providing a better quality of life, or the key to the healing we are all seeking.  As a cancer paitient I purchase & find the following simple & easy vitamin's & supplements all I need to balance my post-chemo health WITH all the drugs my Heamotologist perscribes for me:

PLUS

 LOTS OF FILTERED CLEAN WATER & GOOD FOOD.

Most of the above can be purchased very cheaply at your local pharmacy and should not clash with what your Oncologist or Heamotologist are recommending or prescribing.  As a rule, I usually say no to all other offers of non-mainstream therapies of pills, potions, special juices, patches, powders, etc. My theory is if it's not recommened by my specialist and there is no clinical trial beside it, it's a waste of my time and funds.  

If it's recomended by my pharmacist and is not associated to a MLM group AND it will help me with whatever I am dealing with at the time, then (in my opinion) it's worth considering.

PLEASE GO TO THE FOLLOWING HELPFUL LINK AND BOOKLET (CREATED & PUBLISHED) BY THE CANCER COUNCIL OF VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. THIS ARTICLE AND BOOKLET MAY HELP PROVIDE MORE CONCISE INFORMATION ON THIS AREA OF DEBATE.

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE CANCER THERAPIES SITE PAGE

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE CANCER THERAPIES BOOKLET

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE CANCER THERAPIES SITE PAGE

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE CANCER THERAPIES BOOKLET