Moadel and colleagues found that cancer patients said they wanted help with overcoming fears (51%), finding hope (42%), finding meaning in life (40%), finding spiritual resources (39%), having someone to talk to about peace of mind (43%), the meaning of life (28%), and death and dying (28%). 

Spiritual needs of cancer patients 

Spirituality can provide a framework in which to develop and understand one's life purpose and to interpret significant life events, such as a cancer diagnosis. Spirituality can have an immense influence on individual health and well-being by conceptualizing spirituality as a meaning-making perspective. 

University of Illinois at Chicago

A type of therapy that incorporates principles of third wave Cognitive Behavioral therapy and spiritual dynamics for healing to occur. Psycho-spiritual therapy draws upon aspects of depth psychology that utilizes altered states of  consciousness, which include practices such as passage meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, music, and guided imagery therapy. 

Psycho-spiritual therapy 

Corwin, D., Wall, K., & Koopman, C. (2012). Psycho-Spiritual Integrative Therapy: Psychological Intervention for Women With Breast Cancer. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work., 37(3), 252–273. https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2012.686961

Psycho-Spiritual Integrative Therapy: Psychological Intervention for Women With Breast Cancer

According to research, breast cancer patients who were taught coping and relaxation methods such as meditation and yoga, helped them gain perspective on life stressors that can contribute feelings of tension, anxiety, anger, and fears. Meditation enabled patients to view their stressors from a "neutral" standpoint and thereby improving their psychological well-being. 

Reduced mood disturbance in breast cancer patients 

Mindfulness-based stress reduction practice has also been reported to alleviate a wide range of physical symptoms that breast cancer patients experience. It's possible that mindfulness practice can improve the ability of cancer patients to respond calmly to stressors by reducing the reactivity of the autonomic nervous system. Chronic activation of the nervous system can lead to a decline in physical functioning, and mindfulness skills can help reduce chronic over-activity. 

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