Back to October 2000: Feelings About Breast Cancer
Does group interaction affect recovery?
- Question from janice: Could you elaborate on the most beneficial areas of group interaction that affect recovery/recurrence in your most recent studies?
- Answer —David Spiegel, Ph.D.: We are not certain. We are actually doing active research on that. I think some of the most critical pieces are creating a new network of social support so you feel less alone. Expressing emotion, dealing with feelings that are otherwise hard to deal with, taking fears head on. Talking about fears, dying, death or disease recurrence and improving communication with family and physicians and some of the self-management skills that we've talked about. I think those are important components of good group support.