Last Updated on October 19, 2023 by Emma
My mom went in for an annual mammogram recently and they found a mass. She had to have an ultrasound and additional testing and was awaiting the results. Her mass came back malignant and she does, in fact, have breast cancer.
Our first response: prayer. It is crucial to pray for those with breast cancer!
A diagnosis like breast cancer comes with a wave of emotions. Fear, worry, & sadness are at the top of my list. Luckily, when we feel these emotions we can turn to Scripture for comforting words.
It’s easy to fall into the depths of despair so it’s important to have Scripture verses at the tip of our lips to cling to, to help put these emotions at bay.
Fear: Fear is a common emotion to have when given a cancer diagnosis of any kind. I think we mostly fear the unknown. Is this going to be a long and painful journey? Am I (or someone I love) going to die?
The good news is that modern medicine has come a long way, and although death is a possibility, it is less likely than it used to be!
Fear is a difficult emotion to express because, as Christians, I think we feel if we show we are fearful it means we don’t trust in God. It’s okay to be fearful, we just can’t let it consume us. The road of breast cancer treatment can be scary, but we can have peace knowing we don’t have to walk it alone. The Scriptures tell us, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4, NIV).
Worry: It’s easy to worry about breast cancer because there are very real and serious risks that come with the treatments. Surgery is risky, but necessary in most cases. Radiation and/or chemotherapy is very hard on your body. It’s okay to worry, but you don’t want it to overtake your life.
We can look to Jesus’ words in Scripture for comfort, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NIV). Bringing our woes to Him will help us to feel more at peace.
Sadness: It’s natural to think about all the things you might miss out on during your time of treatment. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can all be difficult on your body, physically and emotionally, so you will need to scale back on your typical activities.
Depending on the severity of your diagnosis, some may be mourning the loss of life that they might have had.
However, the Scriptures tell us that God will, “turn their mourning into gladness; [He] will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow” (Jeremiah 31:13, NIV). When we put our trust and hope in Him, knowing that we will one day have eternal life with Him, we can have no other emotion, but joy.
Although it’s easier said than done, focusing on the joy and beauty we will experience with God forever in Heaven is sure to bring you and your loved one hope and strength through this difficult time.
For everyone with a loved one with breast cancer, know that I am living this with you. I am processing all the emotions and shouting these words to God myself!
I have given you 9 prayers, but feel free to customize them to your specific needs. Please leave prayer requests in the comments so we can pray with you!
Short Prayer for Breast Cancer
My God, I have breast cancer. There’s a lot of unknown that comes with this diagnosis. I am worried about the sacrifices I will have to make and things I may have to miss out on because of my treatment. I ask that if it is your will that you heal me completely and I use this time as an opportunity to grow as a disciple and glorify You, In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for Mom who has Breast Cancer
Lord, my mom has breast cancer. This seems like some strange alternate reality that I’m living in. Cancer is something that you hear about people having. It’s something for old or unhealthy people, not middle aged women.
I know breast cancer is very curable so there’s no need to go down the rabbit hole of doom. Although I guess even if it wasn’t curable you still give us the hope of eternal life. It’s hard to stay calm though in a sea of unknowns.
Help me to confidently put my trust in you. Wrap your loving arms around my mom as she comes to terms with her diagnosis and her treatment. Help her to feel safe and loved by You and her family during this difficult time.
The treatments can be difficult and painful so please give her the strength to endure this difficult cross. Help her to look to Your Son as an example of bearing suffering. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus asked, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39, NIV). Help my mom to be comforted by these words, to know that even Jesus did things He didn’t want to do.
Please guide her doctors as they come up with a treatment plan. May they have wisdom and know what is best for her body. Please heal her O God. I don’t want to know a life without my mom, at least not for a long time.
Ultimately, I pray mom having breast cancer is an opportunity to glorify you and witness the faith to others. We have many family members who have fallen away from the faith and I pray that there will be opportunities to talk about You and our hope in You and Your will through all of this.
I surrender my feelings of anxiety and fear and ask that you replace them with hope and joy. It’s all in your hands. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for a Friend who has Breast Cancer
Oh God, (name) has breast cancer. She has been a great friend to me through thick and thin so it’s hard to believe this is happening. Cancer is something that you hear about people having, not something you actually live.
I know breast cancer is very curable so there’s no need to stress too much. Please heal her. I selfishly don’t want to miss out on more memories with her. I know she is a a woman who loves her family too so they would be devastated if she were to not survive this.
Help me to confidently put my trust in you. Wrap your loving arms around (name) as she comes to terms with her diagnosis and her treatment. Help her to feel safe and loved by You and her family during this difficult time.
The treatments can be difficult and painful so please give her the strength to endure this difficult cross. Help her to look to Your Son as an example of bearing suffering. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus asked, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39, NIV).
Help (name) to be comforted by these words, to know that even Jesus did things He didn’t want to do. I know she will feel better if she can truly give all of her anxieties and worries to You. Help her feel free to do so.
Please guide her doctors as they come up with a treatment plan. May they have wisdom and know what is best for her body. May her treatments be quick so she doesn’t have to endure too many doctors appointments or pain.
Ultimately, I hope this breast cancer is an opportunity to glorify you and witness the faith to others. I pray that there will be opportunities to talk about You and her hope in You and Your will through all of this.
I surrender my feelings of anxiety and fear and ask that you replace them with hope and joy. It’s all in your hands. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for my Sister who has Breast Cancer
Oh God, (name) has breast cancer. My sister is one of the most important people in my life. I”m so sad to hear that she has breast cancer. Cancer just seems like something that you hear about people having, not something you actually live.
I know breast cancer is very curable so there’s no need to stress too much. Please heal her. I selfishly don’t want to miss out on more memories with her. Wrap your loving arms around (name) as she comes to terms with her diagnosis and her treatment. Help her to feel safe and loved by You.
The treatments can be difficult and painful so please give her the strength to endure this difficult cross. Help her to look to Your Son as an example of bearing suffering. She is a warrior and I know she will fight for love of You and her family.
Please guide her doctors as they come up with a treatment plan. May they have wisdom and know what is best for her body. May her treatments be quick so she doesn’t have to endure too many doctors appointments or pain.
Ultimately, I hope this breast cancer is an opportunity to glorify you and witness the faith to others. I pray that there will be opportunities to talk about You and her hope in You. It’s all in your hands. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for my Wife who has Breast Cancer
Lord, my wife has breast cancer. I come to you humbly and somewhat of a wreck. I never thought this would happen to (name). Cancer is something that you hear about people having. It’s not something I thought I would have to watch my wife live through.
I know breast cancer is very curable so there’s no need to panic. It’s hard to stay calm though in a sea of unknowns. (Name) is the love of my life and I don’t want to live a life without her. She is my person, a beautiful woman of faith who leads me closer to you. I want to live out all of my days with her and I’m scared the cancer will rob us of that.
I feel selfish of these requests because I’m not even the one going through the cancer. Please heal her of this cancer. Please do it quickly.
I don’t want her to miss out on time with our kids and grandkids. She is an amazing mother (and grandmother) and I want our family to have as many opportunities as possible to see how she exudes your joy and mission in all she does. Please don’t let this cancer take away too many opportunities. May it provide more and not less.
Help me to confidently put my trust in you. Wrap your loving arms around (name) as she comes to terms with her diagnosis and her treatment. Help her to feel safe and loved by You during this difficult time.
Help to be what she needs during this time. Help me to be supportive and have the right words to say to her to encourage her to fight. May I be strong when she is weak. Thank you for this opportunity to live out my vows of in sickness and in health. I strive to love like You, sacrificially.
The treatments can be difficult and painful so please give her the strength to endure this difficult cross. Help her to look to Your Son as an example of bearing suffering. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus asked, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39, NIV). Help my wife to be comforted by these words, to know that even Jesus did things He didn’t want to do.
It’s easy for Christians to feel like they aren’t allowed to be worried because they just have to trust in God. I don’t want her worry to overtake her, but I want her to know it’s okay to tell God that she doesn’t want this. She can be honest with you. I know it will lighten her load if she can be honest with you.
Please guide her doctors as they come up with a treatment plan. May they have wisdom and know what is best for her body.
Ultimately, I pray this breast cancer is an opportunity to glorify you and witness the faith to others. We have many family members who have fallen away from the faith and I pray that there will be opportunities to talk about You and our hope in You and Your will through all of this.
I surrender my feelings of anxiety and fear and ask that you replace them with hope and joy. It’s all in your hands. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for Aunt who has Breast Cancer
Oh God, (name) has breast cancer. She is such a special aunt and so it’s hard to believe this is happening. Cancer is something that you hear about people having, not something you actually live.
I know breast cancer is very curable so there’s no need to go down stress too much. Please heal her. Wrap your loving arms around (name) as she comes to terms with her diagnosis and her treatment. Help her to feel safe and loved by You and her family during this difficult time.
The treatments can be difficult and painful so please give her the strength to endure this difficult cross. Help her to look to Your Son as an example of bearing suffering. I know she will feel better if she can truly give all of her anxieties, worries, and sufferings to You. Help her feel free to do so.
Please guide her doctors as they come up with a treatment plan. May they have wisdom and know what is best for her body. May her treatments be quick so she doesn’t have to endure too many doctors appointments or pain.
Ultimately, I pray (name) having breast cancer is an opportunity to glorify you and witness the faith to others. I pray that there will be opportunities to talk about You and our hope in You and Your will through all of this.
It’s all in your hands. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for Medical Professionals Working on Breast Cancer
Lord, I lift up all medical professionals who are working with breast cancer. This can not be an easy job and so I thank you for those who have chosen this path. I pray for the medical professionals who are performing surgeries today, may you guide their hands.
For the medical professionals who are delivering bad news today, may their words be soft, comforting, and loving. It’s very challenging to have a doctor who has poor bedside manner so please help these doctors so that their patients can feel seen, heard, and cared for by their doctors and nurses.
Lord, give the doctors the wisdom and knowledge for coming up with treatment plans for their patients. Give them confidence as they work towards saving many women’s lives. Protect their hearts and minds that they may not listen to the evil one. They see and hear difficult things each day. Help them to know what they are doing is glorifying to You and building up the kingdom. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for Evangelization Opportunities for those with Breast Cancer
Almighty God, breast cancer is never something I thought I would be faced with. There are many questions that are to come, but what I do know is that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, NIV).
This illness will not shake my faith in You and I pray it gives me more opportunity to bring others to you. Place people in my path who need to hear of You and your unwavering faithfulness. Help me to be your face, hands, and feet to my family who has fallen away from You. They need You.
I offer my sufferings up for those who don’t know you or don’t want to know you. May you convert their hearts and if necessary, use my words to help them in the process. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for Breast Cancer Survivors
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Thank you for curing this cancer! I know You are a miracle worker so I knew if it was Your will that You would heal me.
I can’t help but have a little bit of anxiety that the cancer might come back. Please put these worries at bay and continue to be cancer free for the rest of my days! You helped me to not have to suffer through this alone. I know you were walking with me every step of the way.
Thank you for all the ways You showed up for me during this journey. Help me to use this life that you have allowed me to keep living for the purpose of building up your kingdom. May my story and experience be helpful to others who are going through breast cancer and a witness to others of your healing power. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Concluding Thoughts
When you or someone you love has breast cancer it can bring to life challenging emotions. Fear, anxiety, and sadness are all normal and healthy (to an extent) responses when you first learn the results of your biopsy or other diagnostics. The enemy wants us to wallow in those emotions, but God responds differently.
When we have faith in the Lord he answers our unsettling emotions with the call to trust, be patient, and hold on to the deep and abiding joy only He brings us. The challenges in our lives are invitations to grow as a disciple. May your journey or that of your loved one be a witness of the Lord’s healing power!