life and any potential spiritual crisis. Points of concern detected by a spiritual screening can indicate a potential referral for a formal spiritual assessment. Formal spiritual assessment is usually done by a board-certified chaplain or spiritual care expert with the intent of forming a spiritual care plan. A spiritual care plan is ideally formed in a multidisciplinary framework, in which the patients’ spiritual needs can be incorporated into their current medical treatment. The care plan can then be used to further inform targeted spiritual interventions such as meaning-centered group psychotherapy or the short-term life review. Entering into a dialogue about spirituality can give a sense of meaning and hope, as well as open up treatment opportunities. Approaches and models exist to help clinicians enter into this dialogue and deliver spiritually informed care. Key words Spirituality • Religion • Cancer • Communication • Health • Spirituality and health • Spiritual issues • Spiritual history