Introduction to “Spiritual Care for People with Cancer”

Anja Visser

doi:10.3390/rel11040186

Abstract

There is little question that the diagnosis and treatment of cancer increase existential and spiritual needs and that these needs relate to how patients adjust to their experience. This Special Issue of Religions focusses on studies examining spiritual needs and spiritual care interventions among people with early-stage cancer (stages 0–III) or who have chronic/returning types of cancer. The spiritual care interventions discussed in this Special Issue involve multi- or interdisciplinary forms of spiritual care. Interestingly, all studies in this Special Issue emphasize the narrative and meaning-making dimension of spirituality. More research is needed on the relational and embodied dimensions of spirituality. The varied methodologies and disciplines applied in the studies of this Special Issue show the complexity and richness of spiritual care, which needs to be reflected in the organization of oncological care as well.

Highlights

After decades of research, there seems to be widespread agreement that religion and spirituality play a role in coping with cancer
Relationships between religion/spirituality and indicators of quality of life or mental health are moderate to weak (Garssen et al 2020), there is little question that the diagnosis and treatment of cancer increase existential and spiritual needs and that these needs relate to how patients adjust to their experience
This Special Issue of Religions focusses on studies examining spiritual care among patients with early-stage cancer or who have chronic/returning types of cancer

Summary

Introduction

There seems to be widespread agreement that religion and spirituality play a role in coping with cancer. Relationships between religion/spirituality and indicators of quality of life or mental health are moderate to weak (Garssen et al 2020), there is little question that the diagnosis and treatment of cancer increase existential and spiritual needs and that these needs relate to how patients adjust to their experience. This Special Issue of Religions focusses on studies examining spiritual care among patients with early-stage cancer (stages 0–III) or who have chronic/returning types of cancer.

Results

Conclusion