“You will live to testify of the glory of God”: Peace, prayer and prophecy carried him through Stage 4 anal cancer

In March last year, Alvin Tan decided to go the doctor when he saw his stools turn bloody after a prolonged period of having constipation.

The general practitioner found an ulcer and referred him to the hospital immediately.

Alvin underwent a colonoscopy and a 7.5cm tumour was found. He was diagnosed that day with Stage 3 anal cancer.

The 7.5cm tumour found in Alvin’s anus.

“I was devastated but I also accepted it. I was too stubborn and should have sought medical treatment much earlier,” said Alvin, now 52. He has no family history of anal cancer.

At the time of his diagnosis, Alvin had just returned to the Christian faith after backsliding for more than a decade. During those years away, he also worshipped other idols.

He began worshipping at Good Gifts City Church in April last year and joined a cell group after going through deliverance ministry there.

“I shared about my condition to my cell group members and they stood with me to pray for me,” said Alvin.

“Are you ready to see the miracle?” 

In May last year, Pastor Patricia Owyang from his church visited his cell group to pray for him.

“From today, you’re going to have a peace that you don’t even understand. A peace that fills you with security and assurance because God is with you,” said Pastor Patricia as she prayed and prophesied over Alvin.

She then asked him if he believed that he would be completely healed of cancer, and if he was ready to see the miracle.

“Yes,” he replied.

Pastor Patricia from Good Gifts City Church praying for Alvin, alongside his cell group members.

As his cell members gathered around to join in the prayer, Pastor Patricia prayed for healing for Alvin.

“You will not die, but you will live to testify of the glory of God, and you will also become a blessing to so many others,” Pastor Patricia declared over him.

A “ultimate peace” that surpasses understanding

Throughout that prayer session, Alvin’s whole body kept trembling.

“It was definitely not out of fear. I cannot explain but I felt the ultimate peace in me,” he told Salt&Light.

“It was a deep sense of inner tranquility and contentment. It surpassed human understanding and transcended the circumstances and anxieties that I was facing in life,” he added.

Subsequently, Alvin proceeded to go under the knife four times to drain out the pus that was trapped in his anus. This issue caused him to have frequent episodes of uncontrolled high fever. 

Alvin undergoing treatment in hospital.

Thereafter, he went through five cycles of chemotherapy, both by IV and oral tablets, to kill or slow the growth of the cancer cells.

When he had completed chemotherapy, a scan showed that the tumour had shrunk from 7.5cm to 5.5cm. However, the good news was peppered with bad news: Doctors found suspicious lymph nodes inside his stomach.

Reclassifying his cancer to Stage 4

“The doctors reclassified my cancer to Stage 4 as they suspected that the cancer had spread from my anus to my stomach. They did not recommend me going for further radiotherapy given that it had spread,” Alvin recalled.

He admitted: “The news discouraged me and doubts about my healing came in. But I still pressed in for my healing in prayer and claimed God’s promises of healing in Isaiah 53:4-5 daily.”

Though Alvin could not physically join cell group meetings, his cell group included him through Zoom.

“I updated them on the latest news via Zoom and they prayed against the (infection in the) lymph nodes and the spread of the cancer,” said Alvin.

During the next CT scan, the results showed that the cancer in the lymph nodes had disappeared.

“The doctor said it was a miracle. I was overwhelmed with joy and knew it was due to the prayers of my cell members who interceded for me,” Alvin told Salt&Light.

As the cancer seemed to be localised, doctors then gave him the green light to proceed with 30 cycles of radiation therapy.

Both chemotherapy and radiotherapy led to him having a metallic taste in his mouth and a loss of smell and taste. Having lost his appetite, Alvin’s weight dropped by 10kg.

Alvin weighing only 49kg after losing weight from chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

“It was a hellish treatment. I was weak, had uncontrolled high fever and my feet were always cold. With the tumour at my anus, I could not sit down for periods longer than 30 minutes,” said Alvin.

“All these made me suicidal.”

He experienced having repetitive and intrusive thoughts of jumping down from his room as he lived on the 16^th floor.

During this difficult time, he confided in his mother and sister, and prayed and read the Bible daily.

“I needed God badly. I was not angry with Him and did not blame Him for my cancer.

“I needed His comfort when I felt down, for Him to make my burdens light and to help me cast out all my suicidal thoughts,” he said.

Seeing the hand of God in the ordeal

As he clung on to God, he experienced the presence of God and many answered prayers.

“God knew that I am conscious about my appearance,” he noted. “So throughout the five cycles of chemotherapy, I did not experience hair loss at all.”

There were also tiring moments when he recalled having to wait for up to four hours in hospital as his bladder did not have sufficient water to undergo radiation therapy.

“On top of drinking more water, I prayed for God to hydrate my bladder. And I noticed that I only had to wait for less than an hour for my subsequent therapy sessions,” said Alvin.

During the 10 months that Alvin underwent treatment, he could not attend church services and cell group meetings in person. His cell group members faithfully continued to include him by arranging for services to be projected online via Zoom.

Alvin attending his weekly cell group meeting via Zoom. His Pastor Derek Hong (front row, first on left) also came to pray for him.

“When I was at my lowest, my dearest cell mates did not leave me out,” Alvin shared.

“It touched my heart and lifted my spirit. Throughout the week, I looked forward to the next cell meeting. Their encouragement and prayers helped me not to give up but to believe God for complete healing,” he added.

In March this year, Alvin’s oncologist arranged for him to do another full body CT scan in order to determine the size of the tumour. The scan results showed that there was no more tumour in his anus. 

A recent colonoscopy done showed no more tumours present around the circumference of the anus.

“I was so happy. Our God is a true and living God who answers prayers and performs miraculous healing,” said Alvin, who is now able sit for more than six hours now. He has also put on 9kg.

Alvin at a healthier weight of 58kg after recovery.

“I am so thankful to my Pastors and cell group for praying and journeying with me during all those difficult months,” he told Salt&Light.

Provision on top of healing 

On hindsight, Alvin also realised that God had also provided for him by protecting his livelihood and granting him favour at work.

After being on hospitalisation leave for two months, Alvin could not return to work physically as he needed to undergo intensive cancer treatment.

“I feared that I would lose my job because I was away for so long,” he said.

“My job scope as a workplace safety and health officer required me to be physically there at the plant conducting inspections and managing contractors on site.”

Alvin prayed hard and asked God to not only protect his job, but his salary and bonus as well.

During the 10 months while he was going through cancer treatment, his company allowed him to work from home and paid him his full salary. This was despite them having to hire an additional freelance worker to cover him for site inspection duties.

“Though I could not be there physically at work last year, I received a generous bonus of 2.5 months and a salary increment for that year’s performance,” said Alvin.

Now that he has returned to work, his company has also entrusted him with a big project to handle.

“For those waiting for health or financial breakthroughs, press on and don’t give up,” Alvin said.

“God is our Jehovah Rapha and Jehovah Jireh. Keep claiming and declaring the promises of the living Word, have faith and watch them fulfilled in God’s appointed time.”

RELATED STORIES: 

The God of second chances: When healing comes later in life

“I am moved by the tears of your wife. I will heal you,” Jesus told this dying man

The resurrection of four-year-old Sarah Lyn: A father’s experience of the life-giving Word

The post “You will live to testify of the glory of God”: Peace, prayer and prophecy carried him through Stage 4 anal cancer appeared first on Salt&Light.