QUESTION: How can I improve my spiritual health?

Spirituality is the way you find meaning, hope, comfort and inner peace -- I call it finding your Zen. Some people find spirituality through prayer or religion, but many others find it through music, yoga, art, nature, meditation or even exercise.

It is clear that the body, mind and spirit are connected and the health of any one of these elements seems to affect the others. Some research shows that things such as positive beliefs, comfort and strength gained from religion, meditation and prayer can contribute in healing. This can be so important for cancer patients because not only is the diagnosis stressful, but often the treatments can take a toll on ones body. Improving your spiritual health may not cure the disease, but will often make you feel better, help you cope with the cancer and lessen the stress of the cancer treatments.

Most doctors are still uncomfortable discussing spirituality with patients, but I feel it should be part of the routine initial history intake and is just as important as what medications the patient takes or the patients family history. It gives me great insight as to how a patient will handle stress, if I know the way they find their inner peace. If your doctor does not address this with you, you should be able to discuss your spirituality or beliefs openly with him or her and how it affects your health.

I personally find peace and strength in prayer and always offer this to my patients at their initial consultation. I find the word "pray" crosses all boundaries and all religions and therefore does not offend any particular religion and is a safe way to offer my comfort to patients. In my 25 years of practicing medicine, I have only had two patients who told me they didnt believe in prayer. Patients tell me all the time how much they appreciate that I pray for them and that they know a higher power is working through me.

If you want to try to improve your spiritual health, then identify things that give you a sense of inner peace and take the worry and stress out of your life. Then do those things on a regular basis, whether it be meditating before you receive your chemotherapy or listening to music while you undergo an X-ray procedure. Stress is immunosuppressive and very bad for cancer patients, so it is important to try to eliminate or decrease it as much as possible. Set aside time every day to do the things that help you, such as praying, meditating, singing, taking nature walks, reading, doing yoga or exercising.

Join us for the lecture Spirituality and Your Health on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Mission Hope Cancer Center Conference Room. To RSVP, call 219-4673.

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Have a question for "Your Cancer Answers," a weekly column produced by Marian Regional Medical Center, Cancer Program? Email it to mariancancercare@dignityhealth.org.

Dr. Monica Rocco is a board-certified general surgeon who has devoted her surgical practice to caring for patients with breast disease and providing diagnosis and care before, during and after surgery. She serves as a member of the Marian Regional Medical Centers specialized surgical staff and oversees the Mission Hope Breast Care Center. She is also the surgical director of Marian Cancer Care. Rocco can be reached at 346-3456.

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