Global Perspectives in Cancer Care

With cancer ranking as the primary or secondary cause of premature death in almost 100 countries worldwide, the World Health Organization recognized a high level of investment in cancer control and treatment (including palliative care) in 2019. At that time, governments at the World Health Assembly (WHA) unanimously adopted a new cancer resolution (Universal Health Coverage: Moving Together to Build a Healthier World). The resolution noted the potential for cancer prevention to reduce cancer burden in the future, while reducing the suffering from cancer in the communities.
As most countries are facing an overall increase in the absolute number of cancer cases, large geographical diversity in cancer occurrence and variations in the magnitude and profile of the disease still continue between and within world regions. Specific types of cancer dominate globally: lung, female breast, and colorectal cancer. The regional variations in common cancer types signal the extent to which societal, economic, and lifestyle changes interplay to differentially impact the profile of this most complex group of diseases.
Although survival rates for cancer have improved significantly over the past few decades, for each individual, the diagnosis and treatment of cancer are still devastating, affecting the family and community as well. The care of a person with cancer must be more than just the treatment of the cancer itself. Understanding the cultural, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of the cancer sufferer and their family and community will ensure the best care.
In order to treat individuals with cancer and understand how to give the best possible care to underserved populations, we need to understand cultural diversity. Understanding that cultural aspects of a society may be intertwined with finances and other resources can improve adherence and access to care. Culture is made up of language, religion, cuisine, social norms, history, ancestry, music, arts, and spirituality. In order to improve cancer care outcomes, patients' diverse spiritual and cultural beliefs must be recognized. In addition, available methods must be utilized to improve access and adherence to treatment modalities and regimens.
In this book, we focus on numerous diverse cultures, traditions, and faiths. Many parts of the world are composed of indigenous cultures, with unique spiritual beliefs in addition to the region's primary religion. We present chapters on indigenous religions as well as indigenous traditional healers. People everywhere experience trouble, sorrow, need, and sickness, and they develop skills and knowledge in response to these adversities. This book provides insightful models of these parameters and serves as a valuable resource for health care providers and policymakers by taking a global approach to cultural diversity in the world. By understanding this multiculturalism and the many aspects of psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of health and healing, we can learn from one another.

Dr. Ann Berger completed her undergraduate degree with a B.S. in nursing from New York University, which was then followed by receiving a MSN in Oncology Nursing from University of Pennsylvania. After working as an Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist for several years, Dr. Berger completed her medical training at Medical College of Ohio in Toledo, Ohio. Following medical school, Dr. Berger completed an internship and residency at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut and a Fellowship in medical oncology and pain/palliative care at Yale University in Connecticut. Dr. Berger has had over 30 years of experience in pain and palliative care. Dr. Berger has lectured nationally and internationally. Dr. Bergers research involves developing ways to measure psychosocial spiritual healing. Her other area of research is the use of integrative modalities for health care professionals wellness. She has also published extensively in the field of pain and palliative care. Michael Silbermann, DMD, Ph.D. Professor Michael Silbermann (D.M.D.; Ph.D., and certified specialist in Oral and Maxillo Facial surgery) Chief Resident at Boston City Hospital in Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Ph.D. at Tufts University Medical School (Boston, MA), Post-doc at USC in Los Angeles, CA and the NIH, Bethesda, MD. Was head of the Laboratory for Musculoskeletal Research at the Faculty of Medicine in the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. He has undertaken a number of senior national and international administrative duties especially in the field of biomedical research: Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine; Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel; Chief Scientist, Ministry of Health, Israel; Chairman of the Board of Governors, the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation; Executive Director, the Middle East Cancer Consortium since its establishment in 1996; First representative of the State of Israel in the European Commission in the Program Committee of Bio-Medical Research; EU, Brussels; Mentor of 32 Master and Doctoral students. Published over 370 articles in international peer reviewed journals. Presented over 560 presentations in international meetings and organized over 70 international workshops and meetings. Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Palliative Care and Medicine and the Journal of Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care. Citations 6013; h-index 41; i10-index 154

Foreword Preface 1. The Soul of Health Care: Caring for the Whole Person, United States 2. The How and Especially Why Clinicians Should Do a Spiritual Assessment, United States 3. Caring at the Culture and Spirituality Interface: Case Studies from China, Taiwan, New Zealand, and Sub-Saharan Africa 4. Holistic Care of the Cancer Patient: Identifying Unique Aspects of Palliative Care, United States 5. The Challenge of Truth-Telling in Cancer Care, United States 6. Cultural Challenges in Providing Psychosocial-Spiritual Support to Children with Cancer and Their Families, Turkey 7. Psychosocial Factors of Health Care Professionals and Their Influence on Quality of Care for their Cancer Patient, United States 8. Healing the Psychological and Emotional Aspects of Cancer, Jordan 9. Nurses Providing Emotional Support and Spiritual Care to Patients and Families, Spain 10. The Landscape of Loneliness: An Introspective Experience of Support and Depression in Older People Diagnosed with Cancer, Israel 11. The Psychosocial Burden of Cancer in Sexual and Gender Minority Patients, United States 12. The Health Care Team and Culture in an Israeli Cancer Center, Israel 13. Mindfulness and Compassion Practices for Cancer Patients: The Impact of Culture and Faith in Cancer Care, Italy 14. Enhancing Dignity and Hope in Caring for Cancer Patients through Palliative Care, Italy 15. Meaning-Making in Coping with Cancer: The Impact of Spirituality, Culture, and Psychosocial Support among Cancer Patients in the Philippines, Philippines 16. Spiritual and Religious Impacts on Advanced Cancer Care in Australia 17. The Influence of Spirituality on Quality of Life during Cancer, United States 18. Suffering and Compassion: The Role of Faith in the United States 19. The Role of Spirituality among Palliative Care Patients in Poland, Poland 20. The Role of Faith in Coping with Cancer among Palliative Care Patients in Turkey, Turkey 21. The Impact of Culture and Beliefs on Cancer Care: Iranian Perspectives, Iran 22. Spiritual Healing in Cancer Care: A Hindu Perspective, India 23. The Impact of Chinese Culture and Faith in Cancer Care, China 24. Cultural Healing Practices and Influences on Early Cancer Detection and Treatment in Uganda, Uganda 25. Barriers to Addressing Emotional and Psycho-Social Needs in Cancer Care, Turkey 26. A Jewish Israeli Case Study in End-of-Life Spiritual Care for a Cancer Patient, Israel 27. Existentialism and Spirituality in the Healing Process of Cancer Patients, United Kingdom and United States 28. Psychosocial-Spiritual Healing: An Impression of the Impact of Culture and Faith in Cancer Care in Africa, Kenya 29. Psychosocial Aspects of Breast Cancer: The Turkish Experience, Turkey 30. Cancer Pain Care in French-speaking African Countries and Access to Analgesics: Barriers and Cultural and Emotional Aspects, France 31. Support and Palliative Care for Cancer Patients in Mexico, Mexico 32. Islamic Cultural-Spiritual Guidance in Caring for Cancer Patients, Iraq 33. The Impact of Latin American Cultural Values, Attitudes, and Preferences on Palliative Cancer Care: An Overview from Patients' and Families' Perspectives, Chile 34. The Impact of Culture and Belief on Cancer Care in Costa Rica, Costa Rica 35. Reflections on Middle Eastern Cultural Perspectives in Cancer Care 36. Spirituality, Culture, Traditions, and Other Beliefs Affecting Cancer Care, Uganda 37. Sociocultural Context and Its Impact on Communication, India 38. Emotional State, Spirituality, and Religion's Effect on the Acceptance of Cancer, Morocco 39. Breast Cancer Survivorship in Nigeria: The Experience of Survivors and Need for Development of Supportive Care 40. Impact of Culture and Beliefs in Brain Tumor Patients' Care in Indonesia, Indonesia 41. The Contribution of Spiritual, Religious, and Customary Heritage to the Personalization of Modern Oncology in Multiethnic Societies of Developing Countries: The Model of Montenegro, Montenegro 42. Differences in Attitudes toward Advanced Cancer Care: Planning through the Scope of Culture, Israel 43. Ugandan Culture: Spiritual Guidance in Caring for Cancer Patients, Uganda 44. Cultural-Spiritual Guidance in Caring for Cancer Patients in the Dominican Republic, Dominican Republic 45. Jamaican Cultural and Spiritual Guidance in Caring for Cancer Patients, Jamaica 46. Indian Cultural-Spiritual Guidance in Caring for Cancer Patients, India Index