Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology
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Spirituality is an essential element of person-centered care and a critical factor in the way patients with cancer cope with their illness from diagnosis through treatment, survival, recurrence and dying. Studies have indicated a significant relationship between spirituality and quality of life. Spirituality, in its broadest sense speaks to the meaning patients find in their lives especially during times of stress, illness and dying. ⋯ Finally a treatment plan needs to include the spiritual as well as the physical and psychosocial issues of patients. Chaplains and other spiritual care professionals need to be recognized as the experts in spiritual care and should be integral members of the healthcare team. Integrating spirituality as an essential domain of care will result in better health outcomes, particularly quality of life for patients across the trajectory of cancer care.