ABSTRACT
This chapter explores some aspects of what religious and spiritual care may have to offer to people with cancer. A person may be religious, that is, belong to a faith community and share in some or many of its traditions and practices, without necessarily being particularly concerned about God and the soul. Alternatively, people may describe themselves as spiritual, as caring about a relationship with a deeper, transcendent sense of belonging and meaning, which they may or may not relate to God or an ultimate being, without having any connection with a formal religion. A spiritual carer can be a helpful witness as a narrative is formed about what illness and suffering may mean to this particular and unique person. “Narrative” is an imperfect term because it suggests a complete and coherent story. More often the reality is that the significance of becoming ill, recovering, or travelling onwards towards death changes and grows.
