Jana le Roux Cancer Fighting Fund

Originally from South Africa, Jana le Roux ended up in California for her junior and senior years of college. She attends Biola University in La Mirada, California where she has an athletic scholarship for cross country and track and is studying Public Health. Leading up to the summer of 2022, Jana experienced a stress fracture in her hip that put a pause on training and competing. She turned her focus to weightlifting with a goal of strengthening her upper body but soon noticed her arm feeling sore and hard to lift up vertically. She didn’t think much about it until at the doctor, she requested the cortisone shot to be administered on the painless arm. She learned her humerus and shoulder bone had completely detached. Her doctor wanted to figure out why the bone had broken so easily. After a series of scans and tests, Jana was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma (adolescent bone cancer). A four-inch tumor was located in her humerus bone and around her bicep. Thankfully, Jana’s cancer had not metastasized to other places in her body. Once back home in South Africa, she received chemotherapy to shrink the size of the tumor. She recalls the challenges of chemotherapy, “I was told that I would not be able to be a mom one day, I lost all my hair, I spent several nights on the bathroom floor, and I missed my friends. I missed running and I felt so close to giving up on many occasions. But I didn’t. I got through the first 4 months and then had a major surgery.” During the surgery, her humerus and shoulder was removed, treated with radiation, and placed back into her arm. Today, Jana has a thirteen-inch scar running from her chest to her elbow as a reminder of that life-saving surgery. Eager to return to her normal life in California and on the running team, Jana’s scans came back clear in December 2022, indicating she was cancer free and able to start running again.

Jana's story is powerful and amazing. Please take the time to read her story, in her own words (These are a few of her inspiring Instagram posts).....

"Sometimes God takes you on a journey you didn’t know you needed, to bring you everything you ever wanted. Trust the plan!"

By the end of 2022, my scans came back clear, and my medical team wanted to continue chemotherapy until March to give me the best possible chance of living a long life. I truly felt that the Lord called me back here in January. If I were to finish my chemo, I would’ve had 80% chance of being cancer free but instead I chose to come back early and now I have a 20% chance. I believe that the Lord has the final say and he has been so faithful by providing peace and excitement! I know for the world it might seem crazy or spontaneous but for I wanted more of Him, I wanted to be able to make the best of everyday and enjoy the things I once took for granted. Whatever happens tomorrow happens tomorrow and if my time here is cut short, praise will still be my response because going to heaven is definitely not the worst thing that can happen to me! I wanted to take the risk and trust Him with every cell in my body. I wanted to testify of who He is and what He has done for me. I wanted to jump up and down, laugh out loud and tell those around me to make every day a good day. I have been blessed with old friends, new friends and teammates who keep on reminding me that He is good!

Yesterday (March 22nd) I went for an X-ray and unfortunately my shoulder is breaking down again. I am going through further testing, MRI, early next week to see if there is a tumor / identify the cause of the fracture. I am not losing hope. With cancer or without cancer God has a perfect plan for me. I am expectant because I know that He is up to something for my good and His glory even if it cost me some broken bones along the way. Sometimes you just can’t wait for the storm to pass but you need to learn to dance in the rain and dare to take risks, I won’t exchange the last two months for anything in this world. I am not sure why my bone fractured again but I either way I hope to use this as part of my story and spread hope your way. My prayer is that every broken bone will be a testimony of God’s unfailing kindness and love. Thank you for all the prayers.

On Wednesday when I heard that my humerus is broken again, I had the privilege to listen to Francis Chan. Over the last couple of months, I thought that I wanted to be like him. I wanted share, travel the world, and write a book. I wanted to run again. I told myself that you need to be willing to suffer so that others can heal through your brokenness. If that means cancer or lots of surgeries along the way then you need to allow Him to write the story, He is not a character in your story, you are a character in His. God is not good when my scans are clean, He is good in the uncertainty. That is why I am sharing now; I still don’t know why my arm is broken and if I have cancer but I know that He is good because He gave His life so I could live for how long ever that might be. Thank you for every brother and sister in Christ that stood by my side through this week, thank you for every text and prayer. I thank you for declaring with me that God is the God of all flesh, and nothing is too hard for Him. I believe that we serve a Lord of miracles, and I am going into this week hopeful for good results. I am not running for time being. I love the sport and the community, but the Lord says when the time is right that He will make it happen. In the meanwhile, God was really moving this week at Biola. He has been using my desire to share my story as a way to want to know more of Him and go share His story. A year ago, this time, I changed my major to global health when my advisor told me that she felt that I have a heart for the nations. I responded by saying that I don’t see that. I told her that I don’t think I have a story that will impact people as I haven’t really been suffering, she asked me to pray about it. All through April last year I prayed that the Lord would use my life in a way that will bring glory to Him and by the end of May my arm was broken. In June He answered my prayer, He gave me a story through cancer. He revealed Himself to me through cancer, chemotherapy, and infertility. A year later and I was standing in the same gym with a story of survival because He alone can save. I thank you Jesus for answering my prayer.

04/2/23 - I have cancer again and it is really hard. I took a risk and I’m so glad I did. I wish things were different, but I know that it will be okay. At my school, a group gathered around me, and we prayed over my life two days ago. My number one request was to live a long life, one that is free from cancer and full of adventures to make Him known. But then the Lord planted another desire in my heart last week. One of ministry, He wanted me to grasp the meaning of “suffering for Christ” and how that is a privilege. This might not make sense, but I really do have a lot of peace. Thank you, Jesus, for your call on my life. Thank you, Jesus, that I know that what I don’t have now, I don’t need now.

If I needed my health, you would’ve provided it, but I don’t, so I can rest assured that You are sufficient. You will provide me with my daily bread and apart from that I know that “The Lord is my Shepherd and I lack nothing.” Our theme at Missions conference last week was that “I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” I am still in the land of the living, I’m still alive and my biggest prayer is to serve Him with every minute that I have left.

Thank you all for being part of my story, Jana

Jana is scheduled to meet with an Oncologist this coming Tuesday, April 4th, 2023, to get a written order for a PET scan. She needs the PET scan as soon as possible. If the PET scan shows her cancer is still only isolated to her arm, she will need to fly immediately back to South Africa to have her arm amputated. She has already done intense Chemotherapy and radiation on her arm, so an amputation is the next step to keep the cancer from spreading. If the PET scan reveals the cancer has spread; new decisions will need to be made, as Jana, with her parent’s support, has chosen not to do any more treatments. Her X-ray, MRI, Oncology appointment and PET Scan are only partially covered by her Biola Medical insurance and the balance is at her expense. She will most likely need to buy a quick airline ticket back to South Africa too. Would you please be praying for all the details of Jana's medical care and if you feel led, would you prayerfully consider donating to her medical expenses?