The Online Asbestos, Asbestos Cancer, & Mesothelioma Authority
Cancer Support Groups
Cancer support groups provide cancer patients with emotional support and extensive information on the disease, which they may not otherwise find. Research has shown that support groups provide patients with a strong sense of community where they have unconditional acceptance and practical information on dealing with treatments and their side-effects. Such a space is important because cancer patients often find that those without knowledge of the disease are not as supportive or helpful, mostly because they are misinformed or have a general fear of the disease.
Although numerous studies demonstrate the benefits of cancer support groups, the overall participation in groups is low. Low participation is often due to misconceptions of what groups provide and a general disinterest in sharing one's feelings in public. Researchers suggest that in order to increase participation in groups, hospitals and community centers should target the psychological need of those individuals who do not currently attend support groups, but are in need of the emotional support these groups provide. The internet has allowed current support groups to increase their reach and has witnessed a rise in more specialized support groups.
There are many online resources that are a good source of information for those patients with Mesothelioma, which provide details on the causes of the disease, general support, and legal information.
- Ussher, Jane et al. (2006) "What Do Cancer Support Groups Provide which Other Supportive Relationships Do Not? The Experience of Peer Support Groups for People with Cancer." Social Science & Medicine, v. 62(10):2565-2576.
- Grande, G.E et al. (2006) "How Do Patients Who Participate in Cancer Support Groups Differ from Those Who Do Not?" Psycho-Oncology, v. 15(4):321-334.
- Im, Eun-Ok et al. (2007) "Patients' Attitudes Toward Internet Cancer Support Groups." Oncology Nursing Forum, v. 34(3):705-712.