Suffolk’s Natalie Skinner has always identified as a Christian.

“I have always been into church,” she said.

But in the year prior to her cancer diagnosis in May last year at age 35, the married mother of two’s spiritual journey intensified.

“I wanted to read more, I wanted to be at church more,” she said. “It was like I had a thirst.”

Skinner believes God was preparing her for the six rounds of chemotherapy, 23 rounds of radiation therapy and — so far — four surgical procedures.

That, from a pure medical science point of view, is what it took for Skinner, who was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, to officially become a cancer survivor in September.

But if you ask her, it also took her faith.

“I feel like God was kind of preparing me for the struggle I was going to have through this journey,” she said. “I wouldn’t have been able to handle it as well as I did.”

The clinic where Skinner, a black woman, had the majority of her treatment, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, released a survey recently suggesting blacks are far more spiritually driven during cancer treatment than whites.

“The Cancer Experience: A National Study of Patients and Caregivers” found 79 percent of black patients report being spiritually driven, compared to 39 percent for whites.

The organization argues this supports including a spiritual aspect with cancer treatment and considering cultural differences between patients.

“I don’t think it’s black or white; I think it’s a spiritual thing as a whole,” Skinner said of the role of faith in beating cancer, relative to different cultures and races.

She said that while she was devastated when first diagnosed, “after a couple of months — maybe three months — I realized that there is no problem that’s bigger than God.”

“Once I had that idea in my mind, it was like everything else fell into place,” she said.

Skinner, who also credits a supportive family for her successful cancer battle, said she now thinks of her cancer as “more of a gift from God.”

“I can now use my experience to help others with their experience,” she said.

“I think He has given me that firm purpose … to help others and speak to others.”

Skinner encourages young women to be aware of breast cancer. Though her mother also had breast cancer, she said she had never thought much about it.

“I’m at a point now where I want to spread awareness,” she said. “I don’t want to be just a cancer survivor.”