The woman in Mark’s Gospel had suffered for twelve years, spent everything she had on doctors, and only grew worse. She didn’t ask for a formal audience with Jesus. She reasoned that just touching the edge of His cloak would be enough, and it was.
These thirty verses are for that same kind of desperate, reaching faith, prayed over a cancer diagnosis, whether it’s your own or someone you love.
Pray these daily through treatment, not just at the start or the end of it.
Catholic Prayer for Cancer
1. Mark 5:25-29 (KJV)
“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”
Prayer: Like the woman who touched Your cloak after twelve long years, let this same healing power reach me now.
Let faith like hers reach exactly what medicine alone can’t yet fix.
2. Mark 5:34 (KJV)
“And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
Prayer: Let my faith heal me, and let me go in peace, freed from this suffering.
Let peace accompany this journey, not just the hope of a cure.
3. 2 Kings 20:5 (KJV)
“Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.”
Prayer: You heard Hezekiah’s prayer and saw his tears, and healed him. Hear mine too.
Let my prayer be heard as clearly as his was.
4. 2 Kings 20:8 (KJV)
“And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?”
Prayer: Like Hezekiah asked for a sign, let me trust You for real, tangible evidence of healing.
Let this healing be as real and complete as his was.
5. Jeremiah 30:17 (KJV)
“For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.”
Prayer: Restore me to health and heal my wounds.
Let restoration reach every cell affected by this disease.
6. Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Prayer: You were pierced for my transgressions, and by Your wounds I am healed.
Let this ancient promise reach exactly where I need it today.
7. James 5:14-15 (KJV)
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
Prayer: Let the prayer offered in faith make me well, and let You raise me up.
Let faith-filled prayer be part of how this healing comes.
8. Psalms 103:2-3 (KJV)
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;”
Prayer: Let me not forget Your benefits, who forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
Let healing be as real to me as forgiveness already is.
9. Jeremiah 17:14 (KJV)
“Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.”
Prayer: Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed, save me and I will be saved.
Let this healing be complete, not just partial relief.
10. Exodus 15:26 (KJV)
“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”
Prayer: You are the Lord who heals me. Let that name be true for me right now.
Let this be something I actually experience, not just recite.
11. Psalms 41:3 (KJV)
“The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.”
Prayer: Sustain me on my sickbed, and restore me from this illness.
Let sustaining cover me through every hard day of treatment.
12. Psalms 107:20 (KJV)
“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”
Prayer: Send out Your word and heal me, rescue me from the grave.
Let Your word be as effective now as it has always been.
13. Matthew 9:35 (KJV)
“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”
Prayer: You went through every town healing every disease and sickness. Let this power still be at work today.
Let me remember that healing was never incidental to who You are.
14. Psalms 30:2 (KJV)
“O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.”
Prayer: I called to You for help, and You healed me.
Let calling out and healing happen close together this time.
15. Isaiah 40:29-31 (KJV)
“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Prayer: You give strength to the weary. Meet me exactly there through every treatment.
Let renewed strength arrive right when the old kind runs out.
16. Psalms 34:17-18 (KJV)
“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Prayer: You are close to the brokenhearted, and You save those crushed in spirit.
Let nearness be real right now, not just a comforting idea.
17. Psalms 27:1 (KJV)
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Prayer: You are my light and salvation, whom shall I fear, even this diagnosis.
Let fear lose its grip on me, whatever the days ahead hold.
18. Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Prayer: Let me bring this fear to You instead of carrying it alone, and let peace guard my heart and mind.
Let peace be stronger than the fear this diagnosis brings.
19. Psalms 23:4 (KJV)
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Prayer: Even walking through this valley, let me fear no evil, for You are with me.
Let Your presence be as real in this valley as anywhere else.
20. Romans 8:28 (KJV)
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Prayer: Let me trust that You work all things together for good for those who love You.
Let this promise hold even when I can’t see how yet.
21. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Prayer: Your grace is sufficient, Your power made perfect in weakness.
Let weakness be where Your power shows up clearest through this.
22. Psalms 91:9-10 (KJV)
“Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”
Prayer: Because I’ve made You my refuge, let no harm come near me.
Let this protection cover my body through every stage of treatment.
23. Psalms 121:1-2 (KJV)
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
Prayer: I lift my eyes to the hills, my help comes from You, Maker of heaven and earth.
Let my eyes stay lifted, not fixed on the diagnosis alone.
24. Psalms 118:17 (KJV)
“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.”
Prayer: Let me not die but live, and proclaim what You have done.
Let this season become a testimony, not just an ordeal.
25. 1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
Prayer: By Your wounds I have been healed. Let that finished healing be real in my body too.
Let this old promise still cover new sickness today.
26. Luke 1:37 (KJV)
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Prayer: Nothing is impossible with You. Let this diagnosis not be the final word.
Let this truth hold even when the medical odds look hard.
27. Psalms 46:1 (KJV)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Prayer: You are my refuge and strength, a very present help in this trouble.
Let help feel present, not distant, through every appointment ahead.
28. Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Prayer: Don’t let me be dismayed, You are my God, You will strengthen and help me.
Let help come before I feel completely overwhelmed.
29. Psalms 138:8 (KJV)
“The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”
Prayer: You will fulfill Your purpose for me. Don’t abandon the work of Your hands.
Let purpose carry me through whatever this season requires.
30. Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Prayer: Bless me and keep me, make Your face shine on me, and give me peace through this.
Let this old blessing cover every day of this journey.
Conclusion
The woman with the bleeding disorder didn’t have a formal theology of healing worked out. She just believed reaching out was enough, and she was right. Whatever stage this diagnosis is at, that same reaching out is still available to you.
Pray these daily, and let people around you pray them with you, not just for you from a distance.
For complete healing more broadly, a prayer for complete healing, and for divine healing specifically, a prayer for divine healing are both worth praying alongside this one.