A study published in Cancer, a peer reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, found that cancer survivors are more likely to seek out support groups than individuals with other chronic conditions. They stated that one in four survivors participate in a support group after diagnosis.
According to the study, treating physicians seemed to recognize that support groups are helpful but only one in ten cancer patients studied had received a recommendation to seek out a support group. Support groups are widely available but seem to be poorly handled by the physicians.
Dr. Jason Owen, co-investigator in the study, says "This study sheds light on which individuals with cancer use (support) services. It will help clinicians recognize the importance of support groups for cancer patients. Assistance in identifying and accessing support groups should be a standard of care for all patients receiving curative, follow-up, or palliative care for cancer".
I don't remember my oncologist talking to me about support groups, however, in his office waiting room I noticed many different support services available in the area.
Did any of your doctors recommend that you seek out group support?
1. To find a national or international cancer support group, one resource is the American Self-Help Group Clearinghouse:
http://mentalhelp.net/selfhelp
There are also local non-profit self-help group clearinghouses around the world, which help people to find or form their own local mutual help groups.
For a listing:
http://www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/selfhelp.php?id=859
"My years as a medical practitioner, as well as my own first-hand experience, have taught me how important self-help groups are in assisting their members in dealing with problems, stress, hardship and pain... the benefits of mutual aid are experienced by millions of people who turn to others with a similar problem to attempt to deal with their isolation, powerlessness, alienation, and the awful feeling that nobody understands... Health and human service providers are learning that they can indeed provide a superior service when they help their patients and clients find appropriate peer support."
- former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop,M.D.
"Mutual support groups, involving little or no cost to participants, have a powerful effect on mental and physical health... The psychological and physical health importance of this diffuse community is striking... The self-help movement, both in face-to-face and virtual arenas, has tremendous therapeutic potential."
from American Psychologist feature article "Who Talks?: The Social Psychology of Illness Support Groups" by K. P. Davison, J. W. Pennebaker, & S.S. Dickerson, (55) 2, pp. 205-217, 2000.
Posted at 1:10AM on May 19th 2007 by E. Madara