Healing by Cancer

Abstract

DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2009.24.8161 A Palestinian nurse described a case of an elderly Palestinian woman who continuously stayed awake for 3 days to assist her dying husband. Medications to relieve his excruciating bone pain were scarce in their makeshift hut in a barren, disputed region, and gunfire sounded in streets nearby, yet the man died with a profound sense of inner peace. He was able to achieve this transcendence because of the devotion of his wife, who had walked with him step by step for more than 50 years, raising their children in a war-torn land amid a strong faith tradition of justice and mercy, accompanying him right up to the threshold of death. She, in turn, drew the strength to help him in his last hours from her faith, from the belief that they would see each other again—the idea that his death was a temporary goodbye, rather than a final farewell. This case was presented at a The Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC) meeting in April 2009. MECC (http://mecc.cancer.gov) is a valuable symbol of cooperation as President Obama makes new moves toward peace efforts in the Middle East. It was inspired by President Clinton, who understood that mutual respect is the foundation of peace itself. The Clinton administration charged the US National Cancer Institute to help form MECC, which was officially established in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1996 as an intergovernmental consortium with a mission to promote cooperation and understanding between Israel and some of its neighbors (The Palestinian National Authority–Gaza and the West Bank, Egypt, Jordan, Cyprus, and Turkey) in caring for patients with cancer. The MECC agreement was signed by ministers from participating health authorities and was witnessed by the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services and by the Director of the National Cancer Institute. Attendees to MECC meetings also come from nonsignatory states, including Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iraq, Pakistan and other Arab countries in the Middle East. Many of the MECC members are not able to travel to each others’ countries as a result of visa restrictions, so the meetings take place annually in neutral venues, such as Cyprus or Turkey. The group currently is focused on developing mutual approaches to the development of palliative cancer care programs. In addition to the annual meetings, MECC funds scholarships in palliative care in the United States for physicians, nurses, social workers, and psychologists who come from member countries and train together, fostering cooperation between the different countries. Delegates at this meeting found many ways to relate to the story. To attendees from Arab countries, the story was an example of spousal love and devotion undefeated by disease, poverty, and war. For physicians from Israel and the United States, it was an inspiration, a reminder that human bonding is rooted in the belief that each person is sacred. From the Latin sacrum, sacred means “reserved for a unique task” that no other person can accomplish. In their mutual commitment to their marriage, this couple made itself sacred, reserved to each other. This belief may be hampered, rather than fostered, by the complex and expensive technology of modern medicine. This story illustrates one of many ways of healing. Healing is always possible, even when cure is beyond reach, even when physical pain cannot be relieved. Healing, in this sense, involves restoring a sense of sacredness and wholeness that no living experience, including terminal disease, can take away. Healing involves making sense of one’s death in the context of one’s life. A mutual commitment to ease the suffering caused by cancer has led to the formation of an alliance among people who live in countries that hardly cooperate in any other field. Such a commitment creates unity of purpose among people of different religious and cultural backgrounds. Freed from the mutual suspicions and prejudices and unified by the common goal of compassionate and competent treatment of dying patients, members of MECC are free to take part in an exchange of ideas related to the endeavor of healing. Physicians and nurses who care for patients with cancer have a unique opportunity to assist in healing. This gives meaning to their own lives and reminds us that the life of each person is irreplaceable. Our ability to heal others brings healing to ourselves because it supplies our life with a purpose, a mission. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY T H E A R T O F O N C O L O G Y VOLUME 28 NUMBER 8 MARCH 1