Cancer Encouragement

I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2014. Today, I am considered NED—No Evidence of Disease.

I’m so happy to share how God comforted, guided, and cared for me throughout my cancer journey, along with wisdom, tips, and tricks He gave me or I stumbled upon.

7 Things to Remember During Your Cancer Journey

1. You Are Not Alone

“I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 WEB

Even when the journey feels terrifying or lonely, He is with us. In Hebrews 13:5, God promises that He will never leave us or forsake us and He won’t.

Whenever you look at the palms of your hands throughout your journey, remember that God has engraved you (or tattooed) on the palms of His hands. He sees you and thinks about you all the time.

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will not forget you! Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are continually before me.” Isaiah 49:15-16 WEB

2. God Wants to Walk With You

Cancer can feel like a dark valley, at times shadowed by death, and it can feel isolating. There are places in this journey that no one else can join you, but God. Psalm 23 reminds us that God walks beside us in the valley and leads us one step at a time.

I claimed Psalm 23 each time I felt so alone in the battle. I modified Psalm 23:4 for cancer: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of cancer, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (KJV). I sometimes like to memorize Scripture from the KJV because it feels poetic.

3. Get to Know the Author

God is the author of life, healing, love, forgiveness, grace, truth, and mercy. If you don’t know Him, today is your day. Reach out and invite Him into your life and your journey.

We have all done things we regret, but the good news is that no matter what we have done, God offers us forgiveness. That is why Jesus died—He took the punishment for every sin. Nothing you have done is beyond His forgiveness.

Simply receive the forgiveness Jesus died to give you and begin an amazing journey with God.

“For indeed Christ died for sins once for all, the Just and Righteous for the unjust and unrighteous [the Innocent for the guilty] so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit” 1 Peter 3:18 AMP

4. You Have a Powerful Tool

Ask God to give you a Bible verse for your cancer journey. Write it down, memorize it, and speak it when fear is loud, you’re exhausted, or your body feels overwhelmed.

The Scripture God gave me became an anchor through difficult treatments, uncertain test results, and my stage 4 diagnosis. I have several Scriptures below that I used, but my go-to verse, which I used daily, was: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (Psalm 118:17 KJV).

God spared my life, and this Scripture became real to me, and right now I am living and proclaiming the works of the Lord. It’s the same thing that I spoke in 2014 through this website and my writing.

5. You Have Access to Supernatural Wisdom and Direction

God is so happy to give us wisdom. He is gentle and generous in giving us the direction and wisdom we need when we ask.

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 WEB

Did you know that God is waiting for us to ask for wisdom? In Proverbs, God even personifies wisdom as a woman who calls out in the street; it’s for anyone. I asked God to guide my choice of medical team and to guide them, and He did. I also asked Him what I could do to support my healing—and wow, did He answer! He gave me direction in diet, movement, and mental and emotional health.

I took Deuteronomy 30 seriously in all of my choices. God says, “…today that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your descendants.” Deuteronomy 30:19 WEB I asked God to help me choose life in every area. He gave me a plan to do just that.

“…do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.” Proverbs 3:21–22 NIV

6. You Can Get Some Extra Power

“…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 NIV

Invite trusted friends, relatives, and church members to pray for you. Find people of faith who know how to believe in God. Send them updates before appointments, scans, procedures, and infusions so they can pray specifically.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20 NIV

Also, the Bible says to call for the elders of the church to pray. Why not?

“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” James 5:14-15KJV

7. Let Others Help

Well, meaning people will come up to you and ask if there’s anything they can do. Even if you would ask, it’s hard to know what their Even if you would ask, it’s hard to know what their schedule is and what they can do and what they can’t. This happened to me so many times, and I never asked for help. I have created a handout for you to give people when they ask. See “Quick Ideas to Help Me in My Cancer Journey.”

Meals
Transportation
Errands
Grocery shopping
Housework
Childcare
Sitting with you during treatments
Making phone calls or organizing appointments

Keep the contact information of everyone who offers to help. Send them the list and allow each person to choose what they are able to do.

Here You’ll Find

Cancer can be one of life’s most difficult journeys. This page brings together faith-filled encouragement, practical resources, and honest reflections to support you through diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and beyond. Some of these resources were created specifically for cancer patients, while others speak to the fear, uncertainty, disappointment, and questions of faith that can accompany any difficult season.

Scripture Promises & Encouragement

Scripture is one of the most powerful spiritual tools we have. It is living and active, and it has been my mainstay throughout my cancer journey. Here you’ll find Bible verses and promises chosen to strengthen your faith, quiet fear, and remind you that God is with you—even on the hardest days.

Cancer Tips & Recommendations

If you choose to follow a traditional medical treatment plan, you may find these practical suggestions helpful. I share lessons, resources, and recommendations that supported me and others through appointments, chemotherapy, scans, recovery, and everyday life with cancer.

These suggestions come from personal experience and are not a substitute for guidance from your medical team.

These honest reflections explore the difficulties we face and God’s faithfulness to carry us through—or simply remain beside us when the path is hard. The selected posts include personal stories about diagnosis, treatment, setbacks, victories, and other life challenges, shared with heartfelt honesty and scriptural encouragement.

The Cancer Prayer Journal for Women

I created the prayer journal that I needed during my own journey. It offers room to express your honest emotions, but it is much more than a place to vent. The journal helps you:

Write your vision and intentions for the journey ahead.
Build and organize your prayer team.
Record important members of your medical team.
Create focused prayers for appointments, procedures, treatments, and personal needs.
Reflect on Scripture, God’s promises, gratitude, and answered prayers.
Check in with your mental and emotional well-being.
Rest and recharge with encouraging prompts and Scripture-inspired coloring pages.

Poems & Modern Psalms

Find words of comfort for cancer and many of life’s other painful seasons. These poems and prayers speak to chemotherapy, scans, setbacks, sleepless nights, family challenges, difficult relationships, disappointment, and struggles of faith. Some carried me through my own journey, while others were written from what I experienced along the way.

Write your vision and intentions for the journey ahead.
Build and organize your prayer team.
Record important members of your medical team.
Write focused prayers for appointments, procedures, treatments, and personal needs.
Reflect on Scripture, God’s promises, and answered prayers.
Check in with your mental and emotional well-being.
Rest and recharge through encouraging prompts and inspirational coloring pages.

It is a comforting and practical companion designed to help you walk through cancer with greater faith, focus, and intention.

Sandy Popp