For people dealing with cancer, emotional support comes in many different ways, and for some people, those include prayer and blessings for health an recovery. Fans and loved ones of reality TV bounty hunter Beth Chapman, 54, have turned to faith, praying for Beth’s health throughout her cancer journey. Now, they are doing so once more as Beth celebrates her daughter’s birthday.
Doctors tell SurvivorNet that prayer and religious faith are in no way mutually exclusive to medical treatment. They don’t recommend using prayer instead of medical treatment, but they warmly encourage faith in addition to medical care.
Read MoreWhile taking the opportunity to comment in praise of Cecily, a lot of fans noted their prayers and blessings for Beth’s recovery. “Happy birthday Cecily I hope ur day was a happy and blessed one praying for ur moms speedy recovery,” wrote one fan, referring most likely to Beth’s cancer journey.
This isn’t the first time during Beth’s cancer journey that her Instagram posts have illicited a host of prayers and blessings from friends and fans. Rather, prayer has become one of the primary ways that fans have shown their support for beth during this time.
For some, Beth is the subject of ongoing personal prayers. “We love you Beth you are one of the strongest women ever. I've always loved how you work hard but more then anything you are a wonderful mother and wife. You are in my prayers always,” wrote fan wrote on her Instagram.
Others note that they are sending prayers in Beth’s direction. “Such a wise, strong woman. Beautiful inside and out. I've always loved Beth and dog…. sending prayers your way Beth,” wrote one fan.
“I have always been able to see the love between you two and I'm so glad that you found one another years ago! Stay strong Beth! You inspire so many people everyday simply because you're you! Love, hugs, prayers sent your way,” commented another.
Still others use prayers as a sign off, “You are truly a beautiful soul, I wish I had the strength and fight you do. You are an amazing idol for all women. Love & Prayers.”
And a lot of fans have referenced Jesus and God as well, presumably in order to connect with Beth over her faith. “I am tearing up…your words took me right back to the moment 8 years ago Jesus met me right where I was…lost. love you. God bless you!”
“His grace is enough for me! I still continue to pray for you sister. I pray for God to give you strength, courage, love, kindness, patience and perseverance to keep fighting another day. I ask our Heavenly Father to protect you and your family through this time in your life. I have other sister going through some form of cancer fight also. âœï¸ I will continue to pray for you this prayer because we all want everyone to heal in the name of Jesus Christ! [heart] you sister,” wrote one fan.
“You look amazing Beth! Beautiful as ever! God's got your back. Keeping you in my prayers as always,” commented another.
Stage Four Lung Cancer Treatment Options
Stage 4 lung cancer has, by definition, spread throughout the body. "Stage 4 lung cancer means that beyond the disease you can see in the chest and the bone and the liver and the brain, there is invariably invisible metastatic disease, and we don't know which of these spots is going to make you sick," said Dr. Oxnard, Thoracic Oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in a previous interview with SurvivorNet about stage four lung cancer.
Which is why doctors want to devise a plan to treat every part of a patient with stage four cancer. "Stage 4 means, treat the whole body visible and invisible spots," said Dr. Oxnard.
In order to do that, doctors have moved away from just chemotherapy, and begun targeting treatment to the behavior of an individual's disease, after learning about the biology of a patient's specific tumor. "The way we plan Stage 4 lung cancer today is using precision therapy. It's the idea of moving away from just chemotherapy for all into finding the right medicine for the right patient."
Dr. Geoffrey Oxnard, Thoracic Oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute gives an overview of information about treatment for stage four lung cancer
The field of late stage lung cancer treatment has changed a lot over the past decade. "10 years ago, all patients who presented with lung cancer ended up getting chemo, " Dr. Oxnard continued. "Today, about half of patients get chemo up front. But another quarter of patients can get a pill therapy upfront, which can effectively control the cancer."
And there are now some available immunotherapy drugs, which use the body's own immune system to attack the disease. "And a quarter of patients can get immune therapy upfront, which can effectively control the cancer, sometimes very durably," said Dr. Oxnard.
Beth's Decision To Stay Away From Chemo and Turn Toward God
Beth has kept relatively mum about which treatment she is making use of, with the exception of her declaration that chemo is simply not for her. This likely stems from Beth's first bout with cancer. She was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2017. She underwent surgery and was declared cancer-free. However, she was diagnosed for the second time in late 2018 this time with stage 4 lung cancer. In the emotional "chemotherapy is not my bag" speech she gave on Mothers Day, Beth, a devout Christian, explained that she considered the cancer to be an "ultimate test of faith." She explained that she's truly putting her faith in God as she continues this battle.
Fan's of hers and of her show have written to her on social media to express their concern for the reality star's health. One fan named Sara took to Instagram to beg Beth to reconsider. "Oh miss beautiful," she wrote. "The news is saying you have decided to stop chemo. Please rethink that. My husband's aunt done the same and then sadly regretted it after. And it was [too] late. Please please think this through 10000 percent."
Another fan, who goes by the name ChrisannRN on Twitter, offered Beth prayers, as well as some medical advice. "So many options for chemo!!!" she wrote. "There's also immunotherapy. I'd be happy to share more with you if you'd like to DM. Thoughts and prayers are with you!!!"
Another fan named John took to Twitter to emphasize the dangers of ignoring modern medicine. "Beth, I read you are choosing alternative therapies for [your] illness instead of chemo/radiation. I hope this is just a rumor. If you turn your back on modern medicine and go this route I can assure you nothing good will come of it," he wrote.
But since Beth hasn’t shown any signs of changing her mind, prayer seems to be one of the ways that her fans are staying positive, and sharing in her decision to turn toward God for emotional support.
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