For many, support groups help develop a sense of optimism and hope. Hope, however, is often tempered by the reality of a group member's relapse or death. Support groups provide participants with hope, encouragement, information, skills, and a network of friends that can help them cope with their disease, but sometimes you must cope with unhappy realities as well. At the Cancer Wellness Center, our emphasis is on helping each other cope both optimistically and realistically with each situation. The success of a support group depends on how well it meets the participants' needs.
Some groups are an overnight success, while others struggle along for months or years.
While it's often unclear why some groups succeed and others fail, respondents to the BMT Newsletter survey provided some clues. In general, respondents reported greatest satisfaction with groups that were designed specifically for BMT patients. Support groups for persons with the same diagnosis ranked second. Several respondents noted that a good group facilitator is important. A good group leader will create a climate that encourages constructive discussions, discourages destructive processes, uses consensus to make decisions, helps group members accept their differences, and protects members' right to privacy.