A growing body of evidence confirms the importance of psychosocial interventions in dealing with breast cancer. Research on breast cancer support groups shows clinically significant outcomes for these groups. They state that patients who participated in support groups with self-hypnosis training showed significantly less pain and suffering over the course of a year. The experience also significantly lowered mood disturbance for these women. The results of over ten studies conducted in the past twenty years confirm the idea that group interventions improve patient's mood, provide information, encourage active coping, and increase health-enhancing behaviors.
Support groups can be an effective resource in many ways to assist members.
For example, learning skills for anxiety management, developing coping strategies to adjust to life changes, and reducing the isolation that many women feel after their diagnosis. In order to provide more options for women with breast cancer in the Silicon Valley, The Breast CancerTalk Project is emerging into the list of resources with therapist-led support groups. Visit our website for our Mission Statement and information. Michael's Mommy Has Breast Cancer by Lisa Torrey, Hibiscus Press.