A spiritual assessment may help the doctor understand if a patient will use religious or spiritual beliefs to cope with the cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Knowing the role that religion and spirituality play in the patient's life may help the doctor understand how religious and spiritual beliefs affect the patient's response to the cancer diagnosis and decisions about cancer treatment. Some doctors or caregivers may wait for the patient to bring up spiritual concerns. Others will ask for some initial information in an interview or on a form called a spiritual assessment.

A spiritual assessment will include asking about religious preference, beliefs, and spiritual practices.

Medical staff may not ask about every issue the patient feels is important. The patient should feel comfortable bringing up other spiritual or religious issues that he or she thinks may affect cancer care.

A spiritual assessment may include questions relating to the following issues:

• Religious denomination, if any.
• Beliefs or philosophy of life.
• Important spiritual practices or rituals.
• Use of spirituality or religion as a source of strength.
• Participation in a religious community.
• Use of prayer or meditation.
• Loss of faith.
• Conflicts between spiritual or religious beliefs and cancer treatments.
• Ways the caregivers may address the patient's spiritual needs.
• Concerns about death and the afterlife.
• End-of-life planning.

Glossary Terms

In healthcare, a process used to learn about a patient’s condition. This may include a complete medical history, medical tests, a physical exam, a test of learning skills, tests to find out if the patient is able to carry out the tasks of daily living, a mental health evaluation, and a review of social support and community resources available to the patient.

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

In religion, describes a group whose members are organized under a common name and set of rules and have common beliefs and practices.

The process of identifying a disease, such as cancer, from its signs and symptoms.

Medical doctor.

Having to do with deep, often religious, feelings and beliefs, including a person’s sense of peace, purpose, connection to others, and beliefs about the meaning of life.