Suffering as a multicultural cancer experience.
OBJECTIVE
To highlight some of the explicit and implicit assumptions that contribute to suffering focusing on the socio-political and economic dimensions of the problem and the spiritual/religious dimension as one solution.


METHODS
Journal articles, web sites and qualitative research data, and personal experience.


CONCLUSIONS
The nature of suffering is such that sometimes we are not able to rationalize it, or find any meaning in it. But, one can still find resources in faith and community, and by other means that may not make sense to an outside observer.


CONCLUSIONS
For many people, suffering goes beyond the diagnosis of cancer. Faith and community can function as resources that help individuals to cope with this diagnosis despite the circumstances of their lives.
Barton-Burke
Margaret
M
University of Missouri St Louis, St Louis, MO 63121, USA. bartonburkem@umsl.edu
Barreto
Raimundo C
RC
Archibald
Lisa I S
LI
D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011057:Politics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D013315:Stress, Psychological