Open Letter

An Open Letter to My Fellow Cancer Warriors

Dear Fellow Warrior,

Because my story is shared on this blog, people often reach out to me after receiving a devastating diagnosis. Many are searching for answers, encouragement, and hope. Over time, I’ve shared my thoughts in countless conversations, and I’ve decided to organize those reflections into this letter—for you, as you face your own battle with cancer.

A Battle Worth Fighting

First, let me say how sorry I am that you’ve received this diagnosis. Cancer is a serious and challenging disease, and the battle is hard. But know this—you can win. With God’s grace, you can emerge victorious, no matter the prognosis. Winning, however, may not always mean what we think. It’s not just about survival in this world; it’s about how you live and fight during this journey.

What Does Winning Look Like?

I’ve learned that winning isn’t just about the outcome—it’s about how you respond to the fight. I know that cancer, even at Stage IV, can be beaten. I’ve seen it, and I’ve lived it. But winning is more than just survival.

One of the greatest lessons I learned is this: while we can’t control everything that happens to us, we are always in control of our response. You have a choice. You can let the waves carry you aimlessly, or you can choose to fight, to pray, and to face this battle with hope. That choice—to respond with faith and determination—is a victory in itself.

Facing Mortality

Cancer forces us to confront something we often avoid—our mortality. As humans, we all know that life on Earth is finite, and one day we must die. However, through Jesus Christ, we can have eternal life. While many people live without contemplating death and the promise of life after death, I believe that salvation through Christ ensures that we will live forever in His presence.

When I was diagnosed, I had to face my own mortality. It wasn’t easy. I went through anger, denial, and eventually acceptance. For me, acceptance came through my faith in God. I came to trust that while I didn’t know what lay ahead, God did. He has a plan for each of us, and whether that plan includes healing or calling us home, it is always the best plan.

Surrendering to God

At some point in my journey, I stopped simply praying, “God, please heal me.” Instead, I began praying for wisdom to understand His will, courage to choose it, and strength to carry it out.

This surrender—to trust God’s plan over my own—brought me incredible peace. I could sleep at night, no matter the challenges of the day. I prayed for more time to serve Him as a husband, father, grandfather, and friend. But I also prayed to accept His will, whatever it might be.

Surrendering everything—my life, relationships, and resources—helped me find peace in the chaos. This surrender is a big part of what I call “winning.”

Trusting Your Medical Team

As a trained analyst, I love learning and solving problems. But no matter how much I learned about cancer, I had to accept that my doctors knew far more. Trusting my doctor and his team was vital.

I had to trust that God would work through their care to reveal His will. This trust, like my faith, became a cornerstone of my battle.

Finding Support in Community

One of the most valuable resources I found during my journey was an online community of people who truly understood what I was going through. The Cancer Survivors Network, Colorectal Forum (csn.cancer.org) became a lifeline for me.

This community offered wisdom, shared experiences, and support for managing the side effects of treatment. They understood my fears, my struggles, and my victories.

One piece of advice that stuck with me is that cancer is like a marathon. You need to pace yourself for the long haul—through the highs and the lows. And no matter what, keep moving forward.

The Role of Faith and Scripture

Reading the Bible became a daily habit for me. I turned to the YouVersion Bible app and found incredible comfort and insight in its reading plans. I particularly recommend Tim Timmons’ reading plans for cancer patients. Tim is a cancer survivor and his words inspired me deeply.

Scripture helped me anchor myself in faith and draw closer to Jesus. For me, winning this battle meant finding wisdom in the Bible and following it to Him.

Lessons from Treatment

Every cancer case is unique, but here are a few things I learned during my journey:

  • Erbitux (cetuximab): This drug was highly effective for me, targeting my cancer aggressively. The side effects included a persistent rash, but the results were worth it.
  • Oxaliplatin: This treatment caused lasting neuropathy in my feet and wasn’t effective in my case, but it works well for many others.
  • Scans and CEA Testing: No scan is perfect. PET scans, MRIs, and CT scans all played a role in my care, but each had limitations. CEA tests were a reliable marker for my liver cancer but occasionally gave false positives, which caused unnecessary stress.
  • Vitamin D: My oncologist emphasized the link between vitamin D deficiency and colon cancer. I encourage everyone to discuss this with their doctor.

My Prayer for You

My prayer for you is that you find strength and peace in this battle. I pray that you encounter Jesus, accept Him as your Savior, and anchor yourself in His love.

No matter how tough the fight, remember that you are not alone. You are part of a community of warriors, and we fight because that is what we do.

God bless you,

Phil