Esophageal Cancer Treatment – Spiritual Support

Spiritual Support for Esophageal Cancer

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), spiritual care can be an integral part of your esophageal cancer treatment. We strive to provide a universal umbrella of spiritual support for esophageal cancer patients, as well as caregivers, family members and staff. Our care team works to create a welcoming and motivating environment where all patients are empowered to realize the spiritual aspects of healing, no matter what their faith or beliefs may be.

Our integrative care philosophy focuses on how the cancer experience affects esophageal cancer patients as whole, physically as well as emotionally and spiritually. There are many ways to incorporate spiritual care into your esophageal cancer treatment, from active prayer, reading and contemplation, to facilitating meaningful interactions with others, to simply experiencing a larger sense of meaning in life or a closeness to a higher being.

At CTCA, we attempt to provide you with the opportunity to explore the spiritual component in dealing with esophageal cancer through programs and services available both to you and your family members. These programs include the following:

• New patient orientation
• Individual and group prayer
• Prayer chains facilitated by hospital staff
• Counseling by a faith representative of your choice
• Weekly interfaith worship and communion services
• Patient growth and support groups that focus on healing, faith and life
• Pastoral comfort and support
• Assistance with the development of advanced directives and/or living wills
• Family consultations
• Grief and bereavement counseling and referral
• Taped ministry
• Support with end-of-life issues and decisions
• Interface and communication with your local pastor and church
• Telephone consultations with patients/ family members

Spiritual Assessment

If requested, a member of the CTCA spiritual care staff visits each patient within the first 48 hours of their initial admission for esophageal cancer treatment. The purpose of this visit is to develop a relationship and rapport with you (and your family, as appropriate). This visitation is essential to knowing you and being able to address your spiritual needs throughout your esophageal cancer treatment at CTCA. All assessments will be person-centered, respecting your religion, culture and age. Ongoing assessment of your needs is driven by your and/or family members’ willingness to talk and share.

First-time patients at CTCA are additionally offered a voluntary group orientation session, which provides a helpful overview of the role of spiritual care. Handouts that describe the services available are offered. As noted, spiritual care will be integrated into your master plan for esophageal cancer treatment, based upon your individual needs, choices and desires. Spiritual care at CTCA is divided into three main categories:

1. Contact: This consists of initial assessment, physician referral, nursing/other referral, sacramental service, pre-surgical counseling, post-surgical counseling, crisis intervention, family visits and consultation, group interaction and determining your religious preference, if any.
2. Spiritual Issues: This deals with a wide range of topics, including your: body image, coping system, thought process, socialization, comfort level, ability to sleep, sense of well-being, support system and spiritual patterns.
3. Spiritual Care Intervention: This encourages and values personal exploration of spiritual issues, symbolic language, socialization issues, suffering issues, healing issues, death/dying, grief/loss, God/church, guilt/forgiveness, life values and prayer support.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) serves a significant population of nonlocal patients. As a result, the CTCA chaplain becomes the primary spiritual care provider during the inpatient treatment period. A relationship based on trust and rapport is crucial to the success of integrating spiritual care into your esophageal cancer treatment.

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