Chaplains Help Patients Find Sources of Strength
Cancer affects more than your body. It affects your heart, mind, spirit and relationships. It is a journey of body and soul.
“You have cancer — those are some of the most terrifying words a human being can hear,” says Melech Lensky, staff chaplain for cancer patients at Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin.
“Cancer patients deal with uncertainty, a disease of often unknown origins and sometimes difficult treatments,” says Peter M. Ruta, STL, PhD, supervisor of Chaplaincy Services. “But at a deeper level, they face spiritual questions of meaning, hope and relationships in this challenging situation.” While each patient finds his or her way through the cancer experience, staff at the hospital recognize faith is often a component of the cancer journey. And whether it is in your physician, your body or in a higher power, faith is a wellspring of strength in what can often feel like a very dark night.
A team of chaplains is available to help cancer patients and families tap into their own sources of strength. “I reflect their feelings back to them,” says Lensky, “so they know someone is listening and cares about them. And we talk about sources of spiritual strength that have helped them in the past.”
“The service we provide is less tangible than a blood transfusion or other treatment,” Lensky acknowledges. "But it’s the ultimate we can do to help another human being.”