Thank you for the February 5 article, “Better Healing Post-Cancer Ailments”. We can note an awareness of the importance of supporting people who fight against cancer not only during but also, thanks to scientific progress, afterwards. “Treating the after-effects means recognizing that there is also emotional, psychological, social or even sexual health …” I would also add spiritual “health”! So-called supportive care does exist, and that is a good thing. Their goal is to improve the quality of life of people with chronic diseases, including cancer. They offer care other than medical and curative, in various fields (fight against pain, sophrology, nutrition, physiotherapy, social assistance, psychological, socio-aesthetic, etc.). In the hospital where I work as a Catholic chaplain, spiritual and / or religious accompaniment is part of this supportive care (I don’t think this is the case everywhere…). It is a step forward in the awareness of the importance of the spiritual dimension in the overall care of the patient! There would still be a lot to do in France to integrate this notion of spirituality. It exists in every man. Believer or not, every man is led to ask himself questions about the meaning of his life, of what he is experiencing. Events like illness are often triggers to take a step back, think about what is essential, drop a burden, free yourself. I do not know if the term spiritual health is adequate, but to take the spiritual into account in a global care seems to me important, essential and bearer of life!
Isabelle Marty
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