Even for those who do not consider themselves religious, questions of a spiritual nature or about the meaning of life can be troublesome. Because people attach meaning to events, the question of our life's value and how life will be different after a cancer diagnosis frequently arises. The answers to these questions are not always easy to find. For some people, cancer leads to a spiritual crisis. This may be the first time people are faced with disturbing questions.
Pastoral counselors can often be helpful.
This is not to say that the clergy have all of the answers to life's most difficult problems. However, they are willing to help you search for answers. Sometimes people think the clergy should be called only when someone is close to death. But the clergy may be helpful at any time during the illness. People differ in what they need from the clergy or pastoral counselors.