New Study: Cancer Diagnosis Triggers Existential Crisis and Search for Meaning

CANCER A cancer diagnosis significantly increases patients’ need to reflect on life’s big questions and find meaning in suffering - especially during the first six months after diagnosis, according to a new study. The researchers behind the study argue that healthcare institutions should pay ...
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The body is the primary focus when we undergo medical examinations and treatment. But new findings suggest that patients’ spiritual and existential well-being also deserves attention from healthcare professionals.

Published in the prestigious journal Social Science & Medicine, the study shows that receiving a cancer diagnosis leads to a marked increase in patients’ need to engage with spiritual and existential questions. This need peaks during the first six months following diagnosis, regardless of its severity.

“In fact, newly diagnosed cancer patients are twice as likely to seek meaning in their suffering and to talk about life and death compared to people without cancer,” says postdoctoral researcher Tobias Anker Stripp from the Centre for Science and Faith at the University of Copenhagen, the study’s lead author.

While the emotional shock of a cancer diagnosis may not be surprising, Stripp believes the findings underscore the importance of addressing patients’ existential concerns:

“This calls for greater awareness in the healthcare system and a willingness to initiate difficult conversations. In some cases, it may even be appropriate to design support options tailored to these needs.”

Henrik Jensen, Chief Physician at the Oncology Department at Vejle Hospital and co-author of the study, acknowledges that existential dialogue has long been neglected in healthcare:

About the study

The study “Spiritual needs following a cancer diagnosis” is based on a national survey sent to over 26,000 Danes, including nearly 7,000 cancer patients. Response rates ranged from 30 to 40 percent across both groups.

Respondents were asked about their need to:

  • Find inner peace
  • Find meaning in suffering
  • Talk about fears and worries
  • Connect with something greater—such as nature, community, or faith

The study found that cancer patients have, on average, 8 percent greater spiritual and existential needs than non-cancer individuals.

Among newly diagnosed patients, the need to find meaning in suffering was more than twice as high , as was the need to talk about fear, resolve unresolved aspects of life, and discuss life after death.

“In my experience, this is beginning to change. We’re starting to take a more holistic view of the patient. One key takeaway from the study is that spiritual and existential needs evolve over time and vary from patient to patient,” he explains.

“That’s why healthcare professionals should adopt an inquisitive approach and ask patients directly where they are in their existential journey. Now that we have data showing a clear need, we can ask concrete questions—such as whether the patient has thoughts about death. Of course, we must also respect that this isn’t relevant for everyone.”

Nature More Important Than Religion

Although 70 percent of Danes are members of the national church, religion plays a limited role in most people’s daily lives. This is reflected in the study, where fewer than 10 percent of respondents expressed a need to participate in religious ceremonies or prayer.

“Compared to many other countries, Denmark is highly secularized, and traditional religious needs appear to play a minor role—even in the face of a life-altering diagnosis,” says Tobias Stripp.

Instead, nature emerged as a key source of comfort:

“The most common needs—among both cancer patients and healthy individuals—involve finding peace and immersing oneself in the beauty of nature,” Stripp adds.

This finding also stood out to oncologist Henrik Jensen, who plans to incorporate it into his clinical practice:

“I’ll encourage my patients to seek out nature and tranquility, now that we know how important it is for many people. It also promotes physical activity, which benefits both physical and mental health.”

Jensen believes future hospital design should consider incorporating green spaces to offer patients a sense of peace and respite from the often hectic hospital environment.

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