 | | | | Related Healthscout Videos | |
|
(Ivanhoe Newswire) July 23, 2007 -- A new study shows group therapy does not prolong the lives of women with metastatic breast cancer. But it does offer valuable emotional support.
Researchers from Stanford University and the University of Toronto embarked on a study designed to duplicate the findings from an earlier study they had done, which showed intensive group therapy extended the lives of women with metastatic breast cancer. A 1989 study by David Siegel, M.D., from Stanford University, showed women who received group therapy for one year were more likely to be alive 18 months after diagnosis compared to women who received no therapy. Four studies after that one showed similar results, while six other studies did not confirm the finding.
Text Continues Below
In the current research, Dr. Siegel and his colleagues enrolled 125 women with metastatic breast cancer in a study in which 64 of the 125 women received one year of intense group therapy. The group therapy consisted of weekly meetings of group support and psychotherapy along with one year of educational literature. The literature was offered to all women participating in the study -- not just those in the group therapy arm.
Results show women who were in the therapy group had similar survival rates as women who were only given the educational literature.
Though no difference in overall survival was observed in the new study, Dr. Spiegel says there is a clear psychological benefit of group therapy among women with metastatic breast cancer.
Authors of the study write, "Being confronted with their worst fears as they see others die of the same illness, with help in managing the strong emotions that understandably arise, is emotionally helpful for patients and not physically harmful. Picturing and even watching the manner of one's own death does not hasten it."
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: To be published in the September 1, 2007 issue of CANCER
|
.gif)
