Joyce recalls that back in 1989, she went to the doctor for a routine checkup and unexpectedly found out she had breast cancer. At the time, she was actively preaching faith and praying for others to be healed, so the diagnosis came as a shock. The cancer was a fast-growing type—small in size but aggressive—and doctors told her there was no alternative but to proceed with a mastectomy. She suddenly went from feeling strong in her faith to facing the reality of losing part of her body.
She realized she had an important decision to make about how she would respond. Drawing strength from her beliefs, she reflected on the idea that while no one wants to die, those with faith do not need to fear it. She found comfort in the belief that life beyond this world is better and that loved ones who pass on are not truly gone, but simply in a different place. This perspective helped her move from fear to a sense of peace, trusting that her life was in God’s hands.
Although she was initially very afraid, she worked through those emotions and reached a point where she believed that no matter what happened, she would be taken care of. After her surgery, she did not require chemotherapy or additional treatments, as the cancer had been completely removed. Since then, she has gone for yearly checkups for 28 years, receiving a clean report every time.
Years later, she began experiencing serious back problems, which led doctors to scan her entire spine. They found lesions that raised concern about possible metastasis from her earlier breast cancer. This brought back fear and uncertainty, forcing her once again to decide how she would face the situation. She chose to trust in her faith again, accepting whatever outcome might come while hoping for the best.
She underwent a full-body scan, and the results revealed something unexpected. Doctors told her it appeared that she had cancer in her spine at some point, but it had healed on its own. Further examination showed no trace of cancer anywhere in her body. This outcome left her feeling relieved and even stronger than before, reinforcing her sense of peace and trust.
