Spiritual life after cancer: connectedness and the will to meaning as an expression of self-help
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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Therapeutic Massage for Psychological Well-being in Geriatric Oncology
Published on: May 22, 2026
Stuart J Edser1, Christopher G May
1The Centre for Cancer Management and Psychology, Carrington, NSW 2294, Australia. Stuart.Edser@newcastle.edu.au
Abstract:
This article uses a mixed quantitative/qualitative design to elicit the attitudes and experience of spirituality in a group of N = 11 heterogeneous cancer participants, who were interviewed regarding self-help practice. Part of this interview enquired about spirituality and was analysed separately from the larger body of data, becoming the Spiritual Interview. The authors argue for a conceptualisation of spirituality as a "will to meaning" and "connectedness." Further, they propose that it is the integration of spiritual life that is the crucial variable in assessing spirituality. Participants demonstrated a wide diversity of attitude and experience that supports the authors' contentions.
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