Many people diagnosed with a serious cancer, such as mesothelioma, turn to religion and spirituality to guide them through their cancer journey.

1. Using Religion and Spirituality to
Cope with Mesothelioma
Dana Nolan, MS LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor

2. Clinical Experience
Many mesothelioma patients rely on spiritual
beliefs, religious practices and congregational
support to cope with their disease.
Patients want their religious beliefs considered
and supported by their health care team.
Some mesothelioma patients and caregivers
experience spiritual distress.
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3. Religion and Spirituality
Religion-specific: A set of beliefs
and practices within an
organized group of people.
Most religions or denominations
have a leader or some hierarchy
of leadership.
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4. Religion and Spirituality (Cont.)
 Spirituality-individual: Beliefs
about the meaning and purpose
of life, connectedness to others, a
higher power or spirits of loved
ones who are deceased.
 One’s spirituality may or may not
be expressed through organized
religion.
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5. Cancer Research and Spirituality
Cancer care researchers routinely combine the
two concepts of religion and spirituality in
their results about how these concepts affect
emotional and physical well-being.
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6. Spiritual Impact of a
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
 When diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, it
typically leads patients to think about spiritual issues
such as:
The meaning and purpose of their life
Death and the afterlife
Interconnectedness and transcendence
 The National Health Interview Survey in 2002
reported that cancer patients pray much more
frequently than the general U.S. population.
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7. Coping Through Spirituality
 There is no mesothelioma-specific
research on spirituality.
 Many cancer patients rely on prayer,
religious rituals or spiritual practices to
cope with the physical and
psychological effects of their disease.
Catholics may find that praying the Rosary
relieves anxiety and brings comfort.
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8. Coping Through Spirituality (Cont.)
 A Buddhist may find meditation not only brings
enlightenment but some pain relief.
 A church member may feel less depressed, isolated
and hopeless while singing and praying with their
congregation during a Sunday service.
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9. Benefits of Spiritual Well-being
 The National Cancer Institute reports that spiritual
and religious well-being can improve health and
quality of life in the following ways:
Decrease alcohol and drug abuse
Lower anxiety, depression and anger
Decrease blood pressure and risk of heart disease
Increase ability to enjoy life during cancer treatment
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10. Spiritual Distress
 Spiritual distress is described as feeling abandoned
by God or by one’s religious community during their
cancer battle.
 Several studies have shown that spiritual distress is
associated with depression and poor adherence to
medications or medical advice.
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11. Reasons for Spiritual Distress
 A Patient may view getting cancer as unfair if they
have lived their life according to their religious or
spiritual beliefs.
 Not getting support from their congregation after
supporting others in the past.
 Hearing that God will heal them if they pray
enough or believing that getting cancer is a
punishment for previous sins.
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12. Working Through Spiritual Distress
 Many patients and caregivers don’t feel like they
can talk to their clergy or spiritual community about
their distress.
 Hospital or cancer center chaplains can be a
resource because they specialize in working with
people having health-related challenges.
 Mental health professionals (counselors or social
workers) are great resources to help patients cope
with the emotional factors associated with spiritual
distress.
(800) 615-2270

13. Spiritual Support for a Loved One
 Listen (without judgment or criticism) if a loved one
wants to talk about their spirituality, end-of-life
concerns and arrangements or share stories related
to the purpose or meaning of their life.
 Allow the patient or caregiver to express ALL their
emotions and thoughts about their spirituality
without trying to make them feel better or fix their
distress.
 Many people resolve their spiritual or existential
issues if given a supportive environment to talk.
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14. Conclusions
Research supports that cancer patients want their
spiritual or religious beliefs considered by their
health care team when making treatment decisions.
A large recent study supports the relationship
between spiritual well-being and physical health in
cancer patients.
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15. Sources
 National Cancer Institute (2015) Spirituality in Cancer Care: Spirituality
and Quality of Life. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/about-
cancer/coping/day-to-day/faith-and-spirituality/spirituality-pdq
 Jim, H.S. et al. (2015) Religion, Spirituality, and Physical Health in Cancer
Patients: a Meta-Analysis. Cancer, Vol 1, 3760-3768.
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16. Contact Information
1-800-615-2270
(800) 615-2270