Overtreatment near the End of Life: 3 Tips from an Oncology Research Nurse

by Christopher Buck, MS, RN, OCN

As Christians, we are body and soul. 

Since cancer treatment can seem like a fast-moving medical train, it’s easy to lose focus on both. Focusing only on a patient’s body can too often result in the neglect of their soul. As the train approaches the end of our earthly life, it is vitally important to address the needs of our cancer patient’s souls.

The soul must take priority over the body or we miss the chance to prepare well for our earthly departure.[1] Perhaps as medical professionals we should consider how our patients need to prepare for death.  Cardinal Sarah explains this beautifully, “Death is the most important act of earthly existence.  All life is made to explode, to go further, to merge with Life, with God.”[2]

By interweaving the needs of the body with the needs of the soul we can more clearly avoid overtreatment at the end of life.

3 tips for end of life concerns:

#1 No one should journey alone.

A spiritual physician (e.g., priest, minister, chaplain should play an equal role with the medical professionals in the care of the cancer patient. This is where Cancer Companions can assist cancer patients and their families along with the medical team.

#2 Do not give false hope.

It's important for those of us caring for the dying not to give a false hope of recovery.  There should be less focus on curative treatments towards the end of life and instead, a focus on good palliative and, especially, spiritual care. 

#3 Begin focus on their soul early in treatment.

When a cancer patient is beginning their cancer treatments, the soul and body need to be cared for together.  For as a monk once described death: “It’s an old friend who drives the bus; we wave to her as she passes, indicating that, the next time, perhaps it is you whom she will take for the beautiful trip, or someone else, who knows?  But we must leave that to God.”[3]  

Or more simply said, we must always be prepared for God. 

Now, I have been with so many cancer patients who were trapped on the fast-moving medical train and as a result, they did not have the proper chance to spiritually prepare to transition from their earthly life to eternal life with our Father. 

And this saddens my heart.

Ultimately, I believe Psalm 46:10 says it the best: “be still and know that I am God.”  My hope is that everyone who is part of a cancer journey, myself included, can practice this.  And then, when the bus driven by our old friend stops for us, we can peacefully board it.

Suggested Bibliography:

            Thomas, Columba, The Art of Dying: A New Annotated Translation (Philadelphia: The National Catholic Bioethics Center, 2021)

            Nicolas Diat, A Time to Die: Monks on the Threshold of Eternal Life, trans. Mary Dudro (San Francisco: Ignatius, 2019)

            Kathy Kalina, Midwife for Souls: Spiritual Care for the Dying, rev. ed. (Boston: Pauline Books & Media, 2007)

            Amy Newmark and LeAnn Thieman, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Nurses – 101 Stories of Appreciation & Wisdom (Cos Cob, CT: Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, 2015)

[1] Nicolas Diat, A Time to Die: Monks on the Threshold of Eternal Life, trans. Mary Dudro (San Francisco: Ignatius, 2019), 3.

[2] Diat, A Time to Die, 10.

[3] Diat, A Time to Die, 171.

About the Author

Chris Buck (MS, RN. OCN) a Nurse Coordinator Oncology Research at Overlook Medical Center in Summit NJ.