The Role of Religion among Black Men Living with Prostate Cancer in South Africa
摘要
Prostate cancer is a disease of increasing significance among the population of men globally. In South Africa, black men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer than any other racial group. This chapter focuses on the role of religion in meaning-making, adjustment, and coping among black South African prostate cancer survivors. The chapter underscores the fact that religion, spirituality, and faith can play a critical element for improved outcomes in (South) African prostate cancer survivors. It presents the potentially powerful role that religion and/or spirituality can play in meaning-making and subsequent adjustment process to cope with prostate cancer by black South African survivors. This hardship journey that prostate cancer survivors go through starts with beginning symptoms, the diagnosis, treatment regimen and daunting side-effects, and the prospects of facing eventual death. Concerning cancer survivorship, many patients rely on religion and spirituality as coping strategies. This may assist in improving interventions that include religion in clinical settings as well as the development of holistic approaches in the area of behavioral medicine. Achieving this goal may have a positive impact on the overall quality of life and well-being of (South) African prostate cancer survivors.