Oral Cancer Spiritual Support Services

Spiritual Support for Oral Cancer

For faith-based individuals, spiritual support is a fundamental aspect of their treatment at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). Sometimes, a cancer diagnosis can trigger a crisis of faith. At CTCA, we recognize that faith often helps carry people through difficult times.

We strive to provide universal spiritual support for oral cancer patients and their family members. We reach across cultures, beliefs and religious backgrounds so that all patients, from any faith, can be strengthened, motivated and inspired to use spirituality to combat cancer. In addition, our oral cancer spiritual support team works in conjunction with the other cancer physicians and clinicians treating you.

Getting in touch with your spirituality may help you better cope with the psychological and emotional effects of cancer. In fact, recent studies by researchers found a striking correlation between good spiritual health and good physical health.

Spiritual Support Programs

If you are interested, our pastoral care team can work with you and your family to support all aspects of your faith throughout your oral cancer treatment and recovery. If the on-staff chaplain is unable to assist you, we will contact local clergy to meet your specific religious needs.

If requested, a member of our pastoral care team will meet with you within the first 48 hours of your first visit to the hospital. The purpose of this visit is to develop a relationship with you and learn about your spiritual needs and issues. New patients may also attend a group orientation session, which reviews the role of spiritual care in your treatment. We also offer handouts that describe the services available to you and your family.

 Throughout your oral cancer treatment and recovery, our chaplains nurture your spiritual well- being and support all aspects of your faith. Spiritual support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

CTCA integrates spiritual care into an oral cancer patient’s overall treatment in a variety of ways:

• Individual and group prayer
• Counseling by a faith representative of your choice
• Weekly interfaith worship and communion services
• Communication between our pastoral care team and a family’s spiritual advisors at home
• Patient and caregiver classes focused on healing, faith and life
• Covers of Love – a homemade blanket or quilt given to our treating patients the first time they attend a mid-week worship service
• Taped ministry
• Support with end-of-life issues and decisions
• Baptisms, weddings and funerals

Chaplains can also visit with you before surgery to provide prayer and counsel. Caregivers and family members may also talk with them. In addition, other clinicians, including physicians and nurses, often pray with patients as part of the care they provide.

After leaving CTCA, our oral cancer spiritual support services are still available by phone and through our outreach program, Our Journey of Hope^® .

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