Global Perspectives in Cancer Care Religion, Spirituality, and Cultural Diversity in Health and Healing

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 Comm