| You've been diagnosed with cancer and are still | | | | 3. As a result of sharing information and |
| reeling from the news. I still remember that | | | | resources, many cancer support group |
| period, even though I'm now a 10-year survivor. | | | | participants access resources that they might not |
| Your family and friends, who you assumed would | | | | have been aware of. |
| be your rocks during this experience, are almost | | | | 4. There's comfort in belonging to a group that |
| as upset and haven't been able to provide the | | | | speaks the same language you do, because |
| support you so badly need. Is a support group | | | | they've experienced the same things. |
| the answer? | | | | 5. There's incredible freedom in being able to be |
| One of the most famous and influential studies of | | | | perfectly honest about what you're going through |
| the efficacy of support groups was conducted by | | | | and not having to censure yourself because of |
| Dr. David Spiegel, a Stanford University | | | | your loved ones and friends discomfort with your |
| psychiatrist. Dr. Spiegel found that breast cancer | | | | cancer diagnosis. |
| patients randomly placed in weekly support | | | | 6. They increase the cancer support group |
| groups for one year lived markedly longer than | | | | members understanding of diagnosis and |
| controls -- patients randomly assigned only to | | | | treatment through other people's experiences. |
| regular medical care. | | | | 7. They learn self care skills. |
| The study, once touted as the gold standard in | | | | 8. Strong new friendships can be forged between |
| research about support groups and survivors, has | | | | cancer survivors. |
| since been challenged. To confirm the once | | | | There is no doubt that there are many positive |
| heralded results, Spiegel and a team of | | | | reasons to join a support group. The decision is a |
| researchers from Stanford designed another | | | | highly personal one. But don't feel bad if you find |
| study, to replicate their earlier findings that | | | | that they aren't for you, which was the case for |
| intensive group therapy extended survival times | | | | me. |
| of women with metastatic breast cancer. | | | | When I was first diagnosed with cancer 10 years |
| Their results? They found that the earlier finding | | | | ago, I attended two support groups. One was led |
| that longer survival was associated with | | | | by a former survivor and it was less structured |
| supportive expressive group therapy was not | | | | than the second group that I joined. I found the |
| replicated. They also said that although it is | | | | second group, which was led by a therapist, |
| possible that psychosocial effects on survival are | | | | incredibly depressing. It fueled the incredible |
| relevant to a small subsample of women, further | | | | amount of fear I was feeling at the time. Because |
| research was required to investigate subgroup | | | | my diagnosis came during the same month that |
| differences. | | | | we learned my Mom's primary breast cancer had |
| Given these findings, should you join a support | | | | metastasized, I was riding a big wave of fear and |
| group or not? The following points are some of | | | | anxiety. Meeting with other survivors whose |
| the reasons that people find belonging to a cancer | | | | cancer had metastasized exacerbated my fright. |
| support group an integral component of their | | | | Consequently, instead of feeling the support that |
| treatment and healing journey. | | | | many people feel from attending these groups, all |
| | | | I felt was increased fear. I quit the cancer |
| 1. Participants develop a new attitude towards | | | | support group after four meetings. |
| their illness. Instead of seeing their cancer | | | | Joining a support group is a personal decision that |
| diagnosis as simply devastating, many attending | | | | can only be made by you. If the cancer support |
| support groups find that the group helps them | | | | group you join isn't helping you during your cancer |
| find the gifts in the disease. | | | | journey, look for another one, either in person or |
| 2. With the support of group members, they | | | | online. Thanks to the Internet and social |
| make the changes in their lives that they think | | | | networking, there are a lot of groups to choose |
| are important and have been putting off. | | | | from. |