Spirituality and Cancer Care

Understanding and respecting the spiritual needs of individuals seeking cancer care is a vital link in promoting healing throughout the entire care continuum. Various worldviews among American Indians include a strong sense of celebration and ceremony in response to honoring and giving meaning to life changing events. Integrating transitional themes that emerge during these times and applying these understandings to the provision of healthcare supports the goal of providing culturally and spiritually responsive cancer care to American Indians and their families. This presentation reports on the findings and discussions held during the 2007, Spiritual Care Conference: “Celebrations and Ceremonies for Life's Transitions: Implications for Cancer Care with American Indians,” which was a collaborative effort between the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.; The Phoenix Indian Medical Center ‘s (PIMC) Oncology Center of Excellence, the Chaplains' Association and the Traditional Cultural Advocacy Committee); and the University of Arizona's Arizona Cancer Canter. Funding for this project was provided through the NCI-funded Southwest American Indian Collaborative Network (SAICN). A description of how the collaborative planning process and annual conference events have strengthened the spiritual care programs and the spiritual care services at the oncology clinic at PIMC will also be discussed.