Is there evidence that prayer improves cancer survival?
No. There is no trial evidence that prayer changes cancer survival, tumor response, or recurrence.
The National Cancer Institute's summary for health professionals is plain. Many accounts suggest that prayer, meditation, imagery, or other religious activity can heal. But those accounts are stories, not trials. NCI writes that "the empirical evidence is extremely limited and inconsistent." It adds that on current evidence, it is "questionable whether any patient with cancer should be encouraged to seek such resources as a means to heal or to limit the physical effects of disease."
A person's own faith is a separate question. NCI cites one meta-analysis of religious involvement and spirituality. In it, positive involvement "appeared to be associated with better health and longer life expectancy." But little of that research is about people with cancer. Other findings here have been "criticized as weak and inconsistent." These are links, not proof that one thing causes the other.
NCI does say that the value of spiritual well-being is well documented. That is a different claim. It is not a claim that prayer changes the course of a cancer.
Your care team can tell you what is known about the treatments for your cancer.
Want the full picture? Read our complete explanation: Does Prayer Cure Cancer? What Studies Show
Know someone who needs this?
Plenty of people are looking for something like this and do not know where to start. If this would help a friend or someone you love, send it on — we have written an opening line so you do not have to stare at an empty message. You can change every word of it.
Your message is written and sent in your own email or messaging app — we never see who you send it to, and nothing is added to any list.