Soft Tissue Sarcoma Spiritual Support Services

Spiritual Support for Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients 

Sometimes, a soft tissue sarcoma diagnosis can trigger a crisis of faith. Spiritual wellness may bring a sense of calm and peace to help you cope with the disease and its treatment. For faith-based individuals, the Pastoral Care Department at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) provides a variety of spiritual support services for you and your family throughout your soft tissue sarcoma treatment and recovery.

We strive to provide universal spiritual support for 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 their own personal spirituality to help combat their cancer. In addition, our spiritual care team works in conjunction with the other cancer physicians and clinicians treating you.

Spiritual Support Programs

When you first arrive at CTCA, you will have the opportunity to meet with a chaplain/spiritual counsel. Whether or not you decide to utilize our spiritual support services during your soft tissue sarcoma treatment is entirely up to you. If the on-staff chaplain is unable to assist you, we will contact local clergy to meet your specific religious needs.

The purpose of the initial visit is to develop a relationship with you and learn about your spiritual needs and concerns. New patients may also choose to attend a group orientation session, which reviews the role of spiritual support in your treatment.

Throughout your soft tissue sarcoma treatment, spiritual support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If upon first arrival you aren’t interested in the program, you are welcome to change your mind at any time and join at a later date.

CTCA integrates spiritual support for soft tissue sarcoma patients into your 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

If desired, chaplains will also visit with you before surgery to provide prayer and counsel. Caregivers and family members may also take advantage of our spiritual support programs.

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

Next Topic: Soft Tissue Sarcoma Survivorship Support