Spirituality

Cancer can trigger a spiritual struggle. The internal conflict may draw you closer to your spiritual self or it may push you away.

A cancer diagnosis can also unleash a variety of feelings and emotions. Illness has the potential for causing isolation, and it's common for patients and families to feel they are alone. Unless addressed, this sense of isolation can be ongoing. One of the ways to deal with isolation is by accessing, affirming and supporting your spiritual life. This is true throughout treatment and doesn't end with its completion.

Anger is another common emotional response to cancer. It's a normal reaction to the stress and fear of having a serious, life-threatening disease.

What is spirituality? According to Rev. Richard Gilbert, author of "Connections - Spiritual Links," spirituality is "the art of staying connected." Gilbert emphasizes staying connected to what is important, sustaining, and comforting to the person. He identifies four areas of concern regarding spirituality:

1. How am I relating to myself?
2. How am I relating to others?
3. How am I relating to my world?
4. How am I relating to my God?

Our ability to stay connected in these four areas makes us who we are spiritually.

Spirituality is a process or journey that is never completed and doesn't have a fixed ending. It is a state of constant awareness and discovery. The spiritual part of who we are is the place within us where we live and die, make our decisions and find life's meaning. This is especially true in the midst of experiences that seem meaningless. Spirituality also involves our sense of values.

Spirituality and religion are not necessarily one and the same. The two concepts are not interchangeable, although they may be, for any given individual, woven together in an inseparable and complementary way.

Human beings possess innate spirituality, but not everyone adopts a defined religion. Spirituality is at the core of what we believe and trust; religion is an organized, defined structure of beliefs. Religion is often-but not always-the framework within which spirituality works for us personally.

Addressing spiritual matters often calls for the presence of spiritual caregivers, people who can be with you throughout treatment and its completion. The spiritual caregiver may be clergy from your faith community or a hospital chaplain. Whoever provides spiritual care and support should be:

• A good listener.
• Able to accept your spiritual journey and personal understanding of spirituality and faith.
• Open to questions and not always have the answers.
• Able to act as a liaison with your faith community, as needed.

It's important to be open to expressed hopes and concerns that may link to belief systems, as well as feel comfortable discussing spirituality, faith and religious issues. If you have a strong connection to a faith community, it is sometimes appropriate during illness to perform rituals or sacraments. You may wish to seek out appropriate clergy/faith leaders to perform such tasks.

After Treatment

After months-or years-of treatment, you will inevitably experience physical, emotional and spiritual change. If spirituality was an important feature during your treatment, it will be helpful to continue this form of affirmation. If you did not seek a spiritual dynamic during treatment, you may wish to explore one now. Such spiritual exploration may give you access to new supports and a deeper understanding of cancer and the treatment process.

You may still experience intense emotions, such as anger, or strong emotions may resurface as a late effect. Your life might not be what you had planned: you may face constant reminders of your cancer. You may direct your anger or resentment toward people close to you, or against your spiritual self.

It's normal to be angry. What matters is how you express your anger. One way to cope with anger or resentment is to access your spiritual. To come to terms with the strong feelings surrounding your struggle with cancer begins a process of feeling safe and at ease in engaging in your spirituality/faith.

You have your own unique sense of spirituality-what gives your life meaning. And you have plenty of resources as you continue your spiritual journey. You may reach out to family or friends, or you may acknowledge that the people closest to you may not be the best ones to offer direct spiritual support at a particular time. You may talk to clergy or with fellow cancer survivors. But no matter whom you turn to for support, it's important to communicate openly.

Here are some additional tips on dealing with spiritual late effects:

• Don't limit yourself
  You have reserves within you and surrounding you that can sustain you and help you through many difficulties.
• Don't limit your spirit
  The strength of your spirit is what has maintained you thus far. Trust that it remains and it will be supported and strengthened if you remember that you are not alone.
• Don't limit your God as present in your faith or spirituality
  Again, you are not alone in spirit or in relationships; family, friends, healthcare professionals and the God of your understanding are all with you.
• Speak for yourself
  There is no set formula for achieving spirituality and finding your spiritual self. Rather, each spiritual journey is unique. Improving your relationship with yourself, others and God will help you to grow spiritually.