Spiritual Support
Rabbi Harold Kushner in his classic book on suffering, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, says, "What did I do to deserve this?" is an understandable outcry from a sick and suffering person, but it is really the wrong question. Being sick or healthy is not a matter of what God decides that we deserve. The better question is "if this has happened to me, what do I do now, and who is there to help me do it?"
Though we at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Clinic and the Pain and Symptom Management Program can't answer the "why" question, we are prepared to answer Rabbi Kushner's question of "who is there to help me do it?" We are here to help people with their spiritual doubts, fears, and uncertainties. The spiritual component of our Program gives the patient the support he or she needs until their own resources can be sustained.
In a recent study of 1000 U.S. adults, 79% of respondents believed that spiritual faith can help them recover from disease, and 63% believed that physicians should talk to patients about spiritual faith. Nearly 30 U.S. medical schools include in their curricula courses on religion, spirituality, and health. Of 296 physicians surveyed during the October 1996 meeting of the American Academy of Family Physicians, 99% were convinced that religious beliefs can heal.
These statistics point to the reality that spirituality is an important part of people's healing framework. Our Program is on the cutting edge of this research and continues to find ways to use that research to better support and bring healing to our patients. We are here to help our patients answer the question, "What do I do now?"
When you are faced with a life-threatening illness, it may feel as if your world is turned upside down. Things that used to seem important now seem trivial, and things you took for granted no longer seem so certain. You may search for meaning in this illness, looking for answers, for help, for healing. Some turn to their spiritual beliefs for support and guidance, and others who have not had a spiritual base may seek one.
While many have gone through similar illnesses and treatment, each person’s experience is unique. Each person is an individual, and brings his or her personal history, and physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual makeup into how one copes with this illness. It may be a time of upheaval, yet oddly enough, a time of great growth.
Each person must find their own path to what gives them a sense of comfort and well-being. Prayer, meditation, listening to music, being outside with nature, being with family and friends, reading religious or spiritual writings or just reading for enjoyment, any of these things may be part of what helps you find a sense of well-being. Consider what has helped you in the past in times of difficulty; that may be a source of strength and support again. Talking with a minister, rabbi, priest, or other spiritual leader may help in exploring matters of faith and finding meaning in your experience.
We also have a Patient Resource Center, in Room 1955 in the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Here you may find a variety of books, tapes, and pamphlets on coping with cancer. The books and tapes are available for checking out. We also have guided imagery tapes to be used during chemotherapy and radiation therapy—many have found these to be helpful to provide relaxation during treatment.
Our purpose is to support you and provide a caring presence for you while you are here at the Cancer Center.
