Cancer and Faith

 

The word cancer has to be one of the most emotionally laden words in the English language. For far too many, the word becomes synonymous with death and dying. It often represents an individual’s first stark confrontation with death.   Cancer can instantly darken everything.

For many, cancer becomes a life-defining diagnosis. Many have come to terms with the fact that this awful word will ultimately become the diagnosis that kills them, shortening their lifespan into a very condensed time frame.

As we all know, cancer is not something that is simply prayed away. While I have seen times where prayer swept away cancer, I have also seen many more times where, even among the most devout, cancer continued to ravage the body even after fervent prayer and supplication.

Cancer doesn’t have to eat the soul away as well. Since we live in a fallen world where each of us must die, our Lord allows cancer to exist because of Earth’s fallen nature and our natural proclivity to descend. Cancer and its suffering are difficult concepts to understand and accept, but as Christians, we know that we can rise above cancer’s grip.

Numerous studies have shown that for Christians, outcomes can be better for those who turn to faith. Many studies have shown that coping mechanisms, mental resilience, and mood remained improved during cancer treatment for the faithful. Still others demonstrate increased survivability for a variety of cancers among those who adhere to the faith. The most common reasons for better outcomes include better self-help skills, healthier lifestyles, and, yes, divine guidance and even intervention in selected cases.

The National Cancer Institute has identified ways in which spiritual and religious well-being may improve the quality of life of patients with cancer, including:

• Improved health outcomes

• Increased ability to enjoy life during cancer treatment

• Better adjustment to the effects of cancer and its treatment

• A feeling of personal growth because of living with cancer

Studies abound that show those with a preexisting spiritual life have better survivability rates, even if there’s no clear miraculous divine intervention.

This resilience also shows that patients with robust spiritual lives have less depression and anxiety. Furthermore, they experience less second-guessing of their treatment decisions and have fewer family conflicts about their care.

Devout Christians have been shown to better endure cancer treatments with fewer complaints of side effects.

Finally, and most significantly, many studies have shown that those Christians afflicted with cancer can better view cancer not simply as an affliction but as a means of spiritual growth, however painful and troubling the cancer may be.

Christians, like everybody else, understand their own mortality. Instead of looking at the trials, tribulations, and sufferings of cancer as something that must be endured, Christians can understand that these pains can bring us closer to Christ if only we will allow that. It can become a source of motivation for a more robust prayer life and greater reliance on God.

Cancer can even become a source of inspiration. Mature Christians often understand that not only must they teach those around them how to live productive lives, but also how to endure suffering and face death. Cancer, with all its troubles and fears, enables the faithful to demonstrate to those around them how to endure challenging times with faith and courage. Indeed, times of fear and sadness can still envelop the faithful, as even the most mature Christian remains human. But with a profound and strong prayer life, the faithful can understand that even as we face death, we teach those around us about life. We show our family and friends the struggle and the triumph that Christ allows us, even in our sufferings.

Cancer can defeat the body, but it cannot kill the soul. As Christ said, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28.

 

 

National Cancer Institute. Spirituality in Cancer Care (PDQ). Available at https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/day-to-day/faith-and-spirituality/spirituality-hp-pdq.

Simon CE, Crowther M, Higgerson HK. The stage-specific role of spirituality among African American Christian women throughout the breast cancer experience. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2007;13(1):26-34

Masters KS, Hooker SA. Religiousness/spirituality, cardiovascular disease, and cancer: cultural integration for health research and intervention. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2013;81(2):206-216.

Canada AL, Murphy PE, Fitchett G, Stein K. Re-examining the contributions of faith, meaning, and peace to quality of life: a report from the American Cancer Society's Studies of Cancer Survivors-II (SCS-II). Ann Behav Med. 2016;50(1):79-86.

A Systematic Review of Spiritually Based Interventions and Psychoneuroimmunological Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivorship   Integr Cancer Ther. 2016 May 4;15(4):405–423