Many people know that I had cancer, but many people don’t know that although I was the patient, I wasn’t the only one who suffered. My whole family battled cancer. Not one of us escaped its grasp.

When cancer comes home, every member of the family is launched on a new and challenging journey. Nobody knows quite what to do. Jan and I didn’t know what to do. We bumbled our way through it. We handled some things remarkably well, but in other ways we fell flat on our faces.

From... (continued)

The Bible describes a married couple as becoming “one flesh” (see Genesis 2:24). And the union that marriage brings is felt keenly when one has to battle cancer. Although only one of the members of that union may be diagnosed with the disease, both are profoundly affected by it. In fact, many cancer patients say that the cancer battle is actually more difficult for their well spouse. One patient said, “My wife has suffered more than I have. She is the one who has had to deal with the issues o... (continued)

Pray together consistently. Prayer is a great source of strength and unity for any couple, and it can be particularly helpful when you face a crisis. Statistics show that couples who pray regularly together  have fewer marital conflicts. So practice bringing God into your situation. Set aside a regular time to pray with one another over each day’s needs and express the concerns that weigh on each of your hearts.

Recognize that both of you have needs—needs that you may never have... (continued)

When Dave had cancer, it seemed as if it was just happening to us—to Dave, the children, and me. It wasn’t until years later that I began to understand that cancer happened to Dave’s parents and brothers as well.

We maintained close contact with Dave’s parents throughout his cancer battle, and they made a ton of sacrifices for us. Despite our close contact, I was so overwhelmed by my pain that I overlooked the depth of pain they were experiencing. When Dave had his third surgery, we ... (continued)

Children may be small in stature, but we adults make a critical error if we assume that their smaller stature mirrors a lesser capacity to experience emotion, spiritual depth, and heartbreak. The minds, souls, and spirits of children are just as real, viable, and dynamic as those of adults. So when cancer comes to their home, they may feel its presence just as profoundly and powerfully as adults—they simply lack the wisdom gained from life experiences to help them understand and cope with thi... (continued)

Mom—my one and only one. She takes care of me when I’m sick or hurt. She helps me with my work. She cheers me up when I’m down and have the blues.

So I know why God made moms. But now it’s the other way around because my mom got diagnosed with cancer on May 16, 1996. So now it’s my turn to pay her back for all the times she was there for me.

So it’s been a hard four months with chemo and radiation and being in the hospital six times. But some good news, she is almost done. (continued)

When cancer takes up residence in a home, caring friends and extended family members often want to help, but don’t know how. If you find yourself in such a situation, the following suggestions may help your encouragement touch the hurting hearts of not just one person, but the whole family.

Remember the ripple rule! Like the impact of a stone plunging into a pond, the impact of cancer on a patient ripples out and touches every member of the patient’s family. A sensitive encourager wil... (continued)

We know that the cancer battle isn’t always fought amidst a company of family members and friends. Some who face cancer fight on a very lonely battlefield. For these individuals, cancer doesn’t come home to much of a family.

Some individuals have never married, so they do battle without the love and support (and the accompanying trials, concerns, complications) of a life partner. Some have no children to worry about, to explain things to, nor do they experience the delight and joy tha... (continued)