Hi...
Hey guys...
Dear family...
Starting a prayer request is hard - how do I say, "hey can you pray for us?" without coming across as anxious or fearful? It really doesn't matter, does it?
When biopsy results come back and the result is not what the patient hoped for, there are follow up tests. Maybe the follow up scan comes up negative for systemic spread. Great, no metastasis. When the doctor feels confident that the malignancy is very treatable, the patient might explore options such as trials, FDA-approved treatments, and, as a last result, possibly more surgery. Doing this exploration is key, as additional surgery could lead to more problems or decreased immunity. Not fun.
Asking for prayers when you're not a believer, not a practicer, can be an odd thing; but when you have a faithful support circle who talks to god daily, why not ask? If they believe it and can speak to its positive results, then it could be possible.
I would say the patient is doing well right now, especially after getting the negative scan results, but may still suffer from a high level of anxiety with so many unanswered questions. Perhaps the doctor has prescribed relaxants to manage any panic attacks. And there is most likely an upcoming appointment scheduled in a well-renowned cancer center for further treatment exploration.
It is recommended that the patient attend the upcoming appointment with a list of questions to ask the doctor; carrying them in the "cancer notebook" and rattling them off at the doctor. As long as the patient has that notebook, there should be less of the white coat syndrome when walking out of the office.
The patient needs as much love and support as family and friends can provide at this time. It would benefit all audiences to respect the patient's privacy, while checking in occasionally to ensure that the family is doing well and doesn't want for support.
So when do the prayers begin? :)
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