Existentialism and Spirituality in the Healing Process of Cancer Patients, United Kingdom and United States

When patients are confronted with terminal illnesses, they engage their existential and spiritual faculties in order to continue to search for meaning and purpose in their lives. As such, the World Health Organization’s definition for health recognizes existential/spiritual well-being as an important domain. Existential/spiritual well-being is also a recognized health outcome in cancer patients. Unmet spiritual needs could result in loss of self-worth, loss of interest in life, despair, hopelessness, and sadness which all compromise the compliance with treatment and outcomes of care. Existential/spiritual well-being shapes the spiritual healing process in cancer patients and is now recognized as complementary/alternative treatment for psychological distress. The existential and spiritual construct of patients and their families is shaped and affected by social, cultural, philosophical, and religious values. This chapter discusses spiritual/existential well-being and healing in cancer care and highlights the priorities of health systems for strengthening access to culturally sensitive existential/spiritual care for cancer patients. The content is based on global literature, our ongoing research on this theme and our experience in delivering palliative care.