On Tuesday, October 30th, at M. D. Anderson's Hickey Auditorium, an audience of clinical faculty, clinical staff, support staff, chaplains, local clergy, and visitors were treated to an in-depth and comprehensive presentation of the current state of research about religion and cancer. The event was hosted by the Division of Cancer Medicine and Chaplaincy Department, and featured guest lecturer George Fitchett, Dmin, PhD, Associate Professor and the Director of Research in the Department of Religion, Health and Human Values at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Fitchett can be contacted at: George_Fitchett@rush.edu
Dr. Fitchett presented a compelling argument that there is a growing body of research that is helping healthcare professionals to determine the effects of religion upon well-being, in the context of cancer. He organized his presentation of current research by focusing upon six desired outcomes. He then made reasonable conclusions, based upon the evidence for a measurable association between religion and cancer. The following summarizes his presentation:
1. Incidence, mortality, survival: Religious involvement is associated with lower incidence and mortality and longer survival: Evidence - Incidence - suggestive; Mortality - Mixed; Survival - No association
2. Health behavior: Religious involvement is associated with greater adherence to recommendations for cancer screening: Evidence - Reasonable
3. Importance of religion: A large majority of cancer patients report that religion is important to them. A diagnosis with cancer is associated with increased importance of religion: Evidence - Consistent
4. Quality of Life: Religious involvement is associated with better quality of life: Evidence - Reasonable
5. Psychological adjustment: Religious involvement is associated with better psychological adjustment to illness: Evidence - Reasonable
6. Religious struggle: Religious struggle is associated with poorer psychological adjustment to illness: Evidence - Suggestive
