Tony Amos

I'm part Choctaw, part Cherokee and part Irish and was born at the Indian Hospital in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. My dad was a Pentecostal preacher and my mom a quiet, strong mother. I believe I was raised in the best possible situation, and I credit my father with growing my faith, and my mother with teaching me how to fight.

One of the churches my dad pastored was an inner city church in Baltimore. We actually took an old bar and turned it into a church. I was able to see, from a safe vantage point, how life was for those outside the church and apart from God in comparison with those in the church who walked with God. And I learned a lot about the move of God in people's lives and saw Him make things happen.

But years later, in July 2008, just 15 days after I turned 54 years old, when a routine doctor's appointment turned into an unexpected prostate cancer diagnosis, I began a journey that has allowed me to see God moving in my own life in amazing ways.

When my wife and I first discussed the diagnosis, we looked at it from a faith perspective and agreed that from God's point of view, there was no problem. He could take care of it.

My wife, Annette, had seen a commercial for Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) on television and actually recommended the facility to a friend, never thinking we might need it ourselves. But she had kept the number, so we called. Once we made the decision to visit, we asked our church to pray for us.

I felt God's peace when the pastor laid hands on me and prayed, but I also sensed I wasn't going to have instant healing. I had the feeling God was going to take me through the process.

We arrived at CTCA in August 2008, went through tests and, after consultation with our treatment team, decided on a treatment course of brachytherapy* and traditional radiation. Because I'm also a diabetic, I was followed closely by a CTCA nutritionist.

From the moment we arrived at CTCA, we felt God's presence and the peace of God. Everyone who works there sees their work as ministry, and they care for us above their normal job responsibilities. I've never been anywhere like it. During the time we stayed at CTCA, the chaplain brought me a guitar to play; a nurse played and sang Christian songs to me; someone in Food Services brought my wife flowers. They don't just care for you here; they bless you.

But during treatment, my body didn't always cooperate. I suffered two mini-strokes, also known as TIAs, and lost control of my right arm and hand for a while. This was devastating, since I needed my hands for work and to play the guitar and piano at church. In addition, my blood sugar shot up. My planned short stay at CTCA ended up lasting two months.

And, at one point during that time, I remember thinking, "Do I really want to go through this? It would be easier to just stop everything, give up and die."

I never thought I'd get to that point, but, when I accepted the cancer as something I was willing to go through with God, I didn't envision having complications. That wasn't part of the 'deal' I'd made with God. I was at the point where my wife couldn't even help me. I was at a crossroads and needed to make a decision -- quit or fight. My body and mind were at odds. My body was tired and wanted to quit. My mind couldn't comprehend this, so things got very complex.

One night, I awakened and felt God speaking to me about His peace and how it surpasses the understanding of man. He said that while I was worried about many things from cancer to bills to my kids, God's peace encompassed and overtook all those things, even if I couldn't understand it or the process God was using to provide it.

What I heard God say to my heart that night helped me just accept by faith that even if I felt like I were falling backward and couldn't see the bottom or what the outcomes would be, God was sovereign and He'd be there to catch me. He bought and paid for me with Christ's death on the cross, so I don't belong to myself, I belong to Him. And nothing is going to touch my life but what He allows and will use for His purposes.

Since that night, I recovered and now return to CTCA every three months for check-ups. On a recent follow-up appointment, my PSA numbers were higher than anticipated. But now, when something happens like this, I just fight on, like the Apostle Paul did when he went through trials, because I know God's up to something, and His peace continues to enfold me. I'm still falling backward, but I'm not afraid. The people at CTCA know what they're doing and God's in charge.

*Brachytherapy places the radiation inside the tumor, tightly focused within the site of the cancer. This technique ensures the maximum radiation dose is given where needed the most. In many cases, brachytherapy is an effective alternative to surgical removal of a tumor and the affected organ.

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