Live by Faith
A cancer journey story
”Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe” – St. Augustine
“For we live by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7
On March 31, 2025 I was a relatively healthy seventy-four years young individual living life to the fullest and actually still teaching part-time as a substitute teacher after a twenty-two year career.
All the other teachers would always ask me why I was still teaching.
My reply was simple, “I retired thirty years ago, started a business, sold the business eleven years later, entered the corporate training arena, presented personal growth seminars as far as Australia, wrote numerous books, created podcasts and now. I am into my attirement phase of life.”
One of the teachers replied, “What do you mean by attirement.”
Well, the word retirement says it all, to withdraw or cease. If we flip the switch in our brain towards attirement and not retirement, we could enjoy the best years of our life.
Deep down in everyone’s psychological house is the innate desire to do something worthwhile and purposeful. Consider putting on a new set of clothes, ideas, goals, aspirations, dreams, and absolutely anything that continues to provide you with purpose.
Don’t follow the masses that believe that they are in the final phase of their life.
This is only the beginning of an amazing journey for you.
On April 1, 2025, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung Cancer, EGFR random mutation that came out of nowhere.
Was this some type of April fools joke?
Not really.
This was reality and now I had to pivot so the enemy had no chance of creating greater havoc in my life.
Why this story?
What started as a simple pain in my right shoulder slowly escalated into something I could never have imagined, a full blown stage four lung cancer diagnosis.
At first, I couldn’t even believe it. How could this be happening to me? I kept trying to wrap my head around those words: stage four lung cancer.
Seriously?
I had smoked a little when I was young, but I quit more than fifty-five years ago. By this point in my life, I never even thought smoking would be part of my story anymore. Yet here I was, facing this disease and not because of smoking or any family history.
One of the top cancer doctors at MD Anderson, helped me understand what was happening. After genetic testing, it turned out that my diagnosis was the result of a random mutation known as EGFR.
I’ve always been a cause-and-effect kind of person. If there’s an effect, there must be a cause. But in this case, there was no clear cause. It was simply labeled “random.” And that’s what made it so difficult to grasp. Maybe it came from some environmental factor over the years, maybe not. The truth is that we’ll never really know.
Let’s backtrack 1,364 miles and five months ago, up north in Canada. This is where my journey began.
On March 31, I started experiencing pain in my right shoulder. At first, it seemed like something small, maybe I had pulled a muscle or slept in a strange position. I went to my family doctor, who prescribed an X-ray. Nothing significant showed up, so I went home, hoping it would ease with time.
But the pain only got worse. I went back, and he ordered another X-ray. Still nothing. This time, he recommended physiotherapy.
I tried two sessions, but the pain was so intense that I couldn’t continue. It wasn’t just discomfort anymore, it was sharp, unrelenting, and strange. Something deep inside told me this was not just a simple shoulder problem.
After a couple of weeks, when the pain became unbearable, I tried returning to my family doctor, only to find his office was closed. Desperate, I looked for help elsewhere and found a local medical clinic that performed cortisone injections. I thought maybe this would finally bring relief.
But relief never came. In fact, after that weekend visit, the pain catapulted to an entirely new level, sharper and more consuming than anything I had felt before.
Still searching for answers, I went to a sports injury facility in the city. The doctor there specialized in shoulder pain. My first appointment ended without any clear solution. I went back again, this time with the pain at an intolerable level.
He referred me to another specialist for a cortisone injection. This doctor performed a mini ultrasound scan on my shoulder, studying the screen carefully. After a long silence, he finally looked at me and said:
“There’s no clear image here. No target. If I tried, it would be like shooting blanks into the dark.”
Those words hung in the air. I left the office with no answers, only escalating pain and a growing sense of dread that something much bigger was going on.
I returned to the sports clinic and met with the physician again. By this point, he could see that the pain wasn’t letting up. He leaned in, determined to figure out what was really going on.
This time, he referred me to the Cancer Care facility. That referral changed everything.
I met with one of the doctors on staff, and they ordered an MRI and an ultrasound. My wife was with me, and my son joined us on the call when the results came back.
The doctor’s voice was steady, clinical, but the words felt like a wrecking ball:
“You have stage four lung cancer. You probably have twelve to fourteen months to live.”
That sentence knocked the air right out of me. It was as if the world had tilted off its axis.
Up until then, it had all been about shoulder pain, cortisone injections, and unanswered questions. Now, suddenly, I was staring straight at my mortality, handed a timeline I never asked for.
That was the moment everything shifted. That was the moment we began fast-tracking to MD Anderson in Houston. Because if there was any chance, no matter how slim, I wasn’t ready to give up.
MD Anderson is one of the highest-rated cancer care facilities in the world. When I arrived there, I knew deep in my heart: this is exactly where I need to be.
With God’s strength, light, and grace, I was ready to embrace this journey – not with fear, but with faith.
Onward and Godward.
In that moment, a quote I had written many years ago suddenly came alive in me:
“Others will be looking at the fire, while you are walking through the fire toward your victory and success.”
Those words became my anchor. I wasn’t just enduring pain – I was moving through it, step by step, with my eyes fixed on healing and the life waiting for me beyond the fire.
The next day began a new chapter, the start of my treatment.
The treatment was scheduled for the Woodlands MD Anderson facility, a blessing in itself because it was close to my children’s condo. I still remember my very first trip to Houston, when we visited the main MD Anderson in downtown for my intake appointment.
That’s where I met my Doctor. From the very beginning, he showed not only professional skill, but also compassion and understanding that made me feel seen and supported. God truly placed me in the right hands.
Before treatment could begin, I went through a series of important tests; an MRI, a PET/CT scan, and both liquid and tissue biopsies. Each one was a step toward clarity and direction.
The genetic testing revealed the source of the cancer: a random mutation called EGFR. Though the word “mutation” can sound frightening, I chose to see it differently, not as a death sentence, but as valuable information that would guide my doctors in choosing the most effective treatment. Knowledge, after all, is power.
My Doctor then laid out the plan: four chemotherapy treatments, spaced three weeks apart, with another PET/CT scan halfway through to monitor progress. A roadmap for the journey ahead.
And so, with faith in God and trust in the process, I moved forward – onward and Godward.
The next day marked my very first treatment at MD Anderson in The Woodlands. We arrived around 11:45 a.m., and the process began with a blood test. Afterward, my wife and I waited in the reception area until the chemotherapy team came to escort us back.
Intake who greeted us, immediately set the tone. She was warm, personable, and incredibly professional. She guided us through the steps starting with the check of my weight and vital signs before leading us into the treatment area.
There we met our Nurse who would be with us throughout the entire session. He was everything you would hope for in a nurse: attentive, kind, and extremely helpful. His care made what could have been an intimidating experience much more comfortable.
The treatment itself began with an infusion of medications designed to prevent complications. Once those were in place, the chemotherapy started. Altogether, the session lasted about three hours.
The most difficult part wasn’t the chemotherapy itself, but the back pain I was already dealing with, which made it hard to fully relax. Near the very end, I managed to doze off, and when I woke up, the treatment was finished.
The intake once again stepped in, this time to escort us all the way down to the car. Her kindness even in something as simple as pushing the wheelchair meant a lot to both of us.
The next morning, I woke up with the same back pain and trouble walking with my right leg. I don’t believe it was related to the chemotherapy, but rather the sciatica problem that had been bothering me. I spent most of the day resting, and despite the discomfort, I’d call my first treatment a success.
The next day we were back at the MD Anderson facility in the Woodlands for the echocardiogram. The appointment was at 9:30 a.m.
I have no clue how we got to MD Anderson today as. it was an incredible feat. Being able to walk was increasingly more difficult than before. Our son drove us to MD Anderson early in the morning so we actually got there at 8:30 in the morning.
The echocardiogram appointment was on the second floor so we took the elevator and proceeded upstairs. We were already one hour early, so so we just tried to relax until it was time to go in for the appointment. Sitting on the chair was uncomfortable so I tried lying down on the small sofa.
We had to make a decision that morning whether or not to go to MD Anderson in downtown Houston and visit the ACCC, acute cancer care centre and determine what was really going on with my hip and right leg as it was progressively getting uncomfortably painful. The pain was at a ten.
After the echocardiogram, we made the decision to proceed to the ACCC downtown. It was not easy, making the decision to go downtown as it is generally one hour there and one hour back. Thank God, we made the decision because it was determined by the doctor on staff that the pain was caused by lesions on my right femur and right hip.
My Doctor had already determined during my diagnosis that lesions were evident in several areas. At the ACCC this was reconfirmed.
After we were discharged by the ER doctor our nurse proceeded to unplug various apparatus from my body. At this point I was in a stretcher for at least five hours. I was. very comfortable as he gave me some very strong medication to ease the pain.
However, getting off the stretcher was another story. After being on the stretcher for five hours, it was very very uncomfortable to get off the stretcher and head over to our wheelchair and meet our driver by the ACCC entrance.
The experience at night was beyond uncomfortable especially when I was trying to sleep.
At this point, it is coming up with a plan to treat the pain in the femur and right leg.
It is only by the grace and light of Jesus that I am at this juncture.
This is the prayer that created in order to continue to live by faith. Prayer is beyond powerful.
I pray that this story helps you if you are going through a similar cancer journey.
God bless you.
In Jesus name.
PRAYER FOR HEALING
I now command every cell in my body to align with God’s perfect design through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
My lungs, blood, bones, and all tissues are clear, strong, and whole. Every single part of my body is 100% cleared of any cancer.
Any intruding or mutated cells dissolve and are replaced with pure, healthy cells. My immune system is powerful, alert, and guided by divine intelligence, pure light and grace.
Every breath I take fills me with healing light, restoring me fully.
I am safe, I am loved, and I am healed in mind, body, and spirit.
All cancer cells are now completely removed from my body.
I rejoice that it is already done.
Thank you Father God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen 🙏
TO BE CONTINUED
“Advance confidently and expect the best, as the best is yet to come for you”
Resources
FRANCO CIANFLONE
Mental Toughness For Life Publication
https://5dbb35547a3f7.site123.me
Live Life Podcast
https://shows.acast.com/franco-cianflone-live-li
FRANCO CIANFLONE Quotes
https://www.yourquote.in/franco-cianflone-dgzd4/quotes
Music For Life YouTube Channel
https://youtube.com/@francocianflone?feature=shared
MINI BYTES FOR THE BRAIN 🧠 BOOK SERIES
https://www.amazon.com/COACH-FRANCO-CIANFLONE/e/B00BJTCK0E%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
