Spiritual Beliefs and Cancer

There is no scientific proof about how spirituality is related to health. Frankly, there simply is no way to quantify the relationship between spirituality and how it affects cancer patients. There are, however, some research studies that show that spiritual or religious beliefs and practices promote a positive mental attitude that may help a patient feel better.

Spiritual beliefs have a definite impact on quality-of-life issues. Deep religious beliefs have proven to reduced anxiety, depression, and discomfort as well as to reduced sense of isolation (feeling alone). Cancer patients who are deeply religious make better adjustments to the effects of cancer and its treatment and have an increased ability to enjoy life during cancer treatment. They also often express a feeling of personal growth because of living with cancer. People with strong religious beliefs also have better outcomes of all health-related problems, including cancer.

When people are conflicted about their spiritual or religious beliefs, the opposite is true. Professionals refer to this as "spiritual distress." A great deal of spiritual distress interferes with a cancer patient's ability to cope with having cancer as well as with cancer treatments. Spiritual distress does contribute to poorer treatment outcomes. Health care professionals who note this spiritual distress will often encourage the cancer patient to seek guidance from the appropriate spiritual or religious leaders to help them resolve their issues. Resolving religious issues and relieving spiritual distress helps to improve cancer patients' overall health, provide them with a better quality of life, and help them cope with having cancer as well as with cancer treatments.

The direct effect of spirituality and religious beliefs on health is recognized as a real concern by health professionals. Today, many doctors who treat cancer patients do a spiritual assessment of patients they treat, so that they can better help them to cope.