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Cancer is now the fastest growing killing disease in the Middle East. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to train local health professionals: oncologists, palliative care experts, oncology nurses, psychologists, along with social workers, physiotherapists and spiritual counselors on strategies for early detection, curative therapies and palliation. Professionals in the region, along with the public, need to convince medical administrators, regulators and policymakers about investing in education and training of YOUNG professionals, as well as those with already proven experience in cancer care. Training is the basis for any future cancer care program, which aims at the integration of palliative care practices into standard oncology care across the trajectory of the illness.

Spirituality is an essential element of person-centered care and a critical factor in the way patients with cancer cope with their illness from diagnosis through treatment, survival, recurrence and dying. Studies have indicated a significant relationship between spirituality and quality of life. Spirituality, in its broadest sense speaks to the meaning patients find in their lives especially during times of stress, illness and dying. Illness can trigger deep existential issues that could trigger profound suffering and distress. A model is presented that describes the role of each member of the healthcare team in addressing patients' spirituality. Spiritual distress, as a diagnosis, requires attention and treatment just as any other clinical symptom. Spiritual resources of strength need to be identifies and recognized as positive factors in patients' coping. Finally a treatment plan needs to include the spiritual as well as the physical and psychosocial issues of patients. Chaplains and other spiritual care professionals need to be recognized as the experts in spiritual care and should be integral members of the healthcare team. Integrating spirituality as an essential domain of care will result in better health outcomes, particularly quality of life for patients across the trajectory of cancer care.