Spiritual growth in cancer patients: a qualitative study

This study aimed to explain spiritual growth and explore its dimensions in patients with cancer. In this qualitative study, conventional content analysis was used for collection and analysis of data. The 12 patients that qualified for this study were selected from among patients with different types of cancer, referred to the two large teaching cancer hospitals in Tehran. Six main themes and 11 subthemes were extracted. The main themes included: “return to self”, “tend to spirituality”, “human perfection”, “inner peace”, “a fresh outlook on death”, and “closeness to God.”Cancer patients dramatically turn to spirituality, and use it as a powerful tool to adjust with the disease. The emerging new themes brought to light new aspects of consequences of cancer that can help care providers to enhance growth and improve patients’ compliance with the stressful event of cancer.