Meaning-Centered Intervention for Muslim Patients Who Are Being Treated for Advanced Cancer

Inclusion criteria

• ≥ 18 years of age
• identify, either as self-report or on the MSKCC EMR, as Muslim
• are in treatment including surveillance, for a confirmed diagnosis of stage III or IV cancer (solid or liquid) as per clinician or pathology report
• have an estimated life expectancy of at least 6 months, as determined by their primary oncologist
• are cognitively intact (oncologist's clinical impression or judgement of study staff)
• able to speak and read English or Arabic (self-reported preference or on the MSKCC EMR system).
• To assess English proficiency, participants will be asked two questions: (1) the Census limited English proficient item "How well do you speak English?" with response options "Not at all, Not well, Well, or Very well" and (2) "What is your preferred language for healthcare?"
• Participants who are eligible for the study and are fluent in English will be identified by the response "Very well" to the 1st question and a response indicating English as the preferred language for healthcare.

Exclusion criteria

• Major psychiatric illness or cognitive impairment that in the judgment of the study investigators or study staff would preclude study participation
• patients diagnosed with primary brain tumors as per clinician report, as they may have difficulty completing the intervention and answering the questionnaires
• undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as per clinican report or the EMR
• currently in psychotherapeutic treatment. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common among patients with stage III or IV cancer. Antidepressants, anxiolytics, and other psychotropic medications do not diminish the effects of psychotherapy; thus we will not exclude patients who are being treated with these medications, as long as they are not in psychotherapy.