Peter Le

Recently, I discovered that I have a rare bone cancer (Osteosarcoma)  on my rib.  The tumor is about 6-7 cm (bigger than a golf ball but smaller than a baseball).    At my first visit with a thoracic surgeon-oncologist at UNC, he suggested that I need to have surgery soon.   Later, I also found out that it has spread near the area of my spinal cord (1 cm away).  For that part, I need to do radiation therapy, where the side effects can include nerve pain in my (polio) legs.  Worst case, potentially I may also get leukemia and/or lung cancer down the road.   If I don't do anything, then I may have only 6 months to live.  Needless to say, I did not know how to react to the news.  I asked God for wisdom so I may know how to act.  Act in a way that is pleasing to God.  One Sunday morning, I got up, earlier than usual.  The first thing that came to my mind was "love your enemy."  My enemy is the Osteosarcoma.  Since I am a person of faith and I have friends and family, I reached out to them and asking them to pray for me.  Overwhelmingly, they did and I received much reassurance (from God) that I am going to be alright!  I realize my enemy is also a gift.  In my case, it's a gift of suffering.  Suffering is a great way to purify my soul.  So, where there is a gift of suffering, there is also a gift of Grace.  So, I am focusing on the endless gift of Grace through the gift of faith, friendship, family, love, hope, charity, and so on.  In short, it will be a rough road with many challenges ahead.  Please keep me and my family in your prayers.   Everything is going to be alright!   Updated:  I ended up going to MD Anderson Cancer Center.  They told me that I do not have bone cancer but I do have thyroid cancer.  So, I am going to MDACC for my treatment.