In addressing a patient's spiritual needs during cancer care, medical staff will take their lead from the wishes of the patient.

Spirituality and religion are very personal decisions. Patients can expect doctors and caregivers to respect their religious and spiritual beliefs and concerns. A cancer patient who relies on spirituality to cope with the disease may count on medical staff to respect that practice with support and referrals to appropriate spiritual or religious resources. Patients who do not choose to have spiritual issues addressed during cancer care may also count on medical staff to respect and support their views.

Doctors and caregivers will try to respond to their patients' concerns, but may avoid taking part in patients' religious rituals or debating religious beliefs.

Doctors may address a patient's spiritual needs in setting goals and planning treatment.

Doctors may address a patient's spiritual needs in the following ways:

• Identifying goals for care and making medical decisions that are consistent with the patient's spiritual and/or religious views and which also enable the doctor to maintain the integrity of his or her own spiritual and/or religious views.



• Respectfully supporting the patient's use of spiritual coping during the illness.



• Encouraging patients to speak with their clergy or spiritual leader.



• Referring the patient to a hospital chaplain, appropriate religious leader, or support group that addresses spiritual issues during illness.



• Referring the patient to other therapies that have been shown to improve spiritual well-being, including mindfulness relaxation and creative arts programs.

Glossary Terms

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

A member of the clergy in charge of a chapel or who works with the military or with an institution, such as a hospital.

Ordained individuals who perform spiritual and/or religious functions.

To adjust to new situations and overcome problems.

A type of meditation based on the concept of being “mindful,” or having increased awareness, of the present. It uses breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress.

Having to do with deep, often religious, feelings and beliefs, including a person’s sense of peace, purpose, connection to others, and beliefs about the meaning of life.

A group of people with similar disease who meet to discuss how better to cope with their disease and treatment.

Treatment.