Support groups whose members have themselves had breast cancer are helpful

BMJ 1996;313:361 (10 August)

Letters

Support groups whose members have themselves had breast cancer are helpful

EDITOR,--Although all support groups have a useful role, itis a pity that the support group used in June M C McArdle andcolleagues' study was not one whose members have all had breastcancer themselves and are specifically dedicated to supportingpatients with breast cancer.¹ Members of such support groupscan therefore truly empathise with the patients and also havethe added advantage of being able to talk to patients not onlyabout the feelings involved but also about the day to day practicalproblems experienced after leaving hospital.

In Edinburgh the breast care nurses quite often refer patientsto our support group, Reach for Recovery, and value the reassuranceand help that we can provide. We have been given the use ofa room in the breast clinic, where nursing staff can bring patientsimmediately after they have received their diagnosis, whilethey are waiting to see the . . . [Full text of this article]

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Psychological support for patients undergoing breast cancer surgery: a randomised study: June M C McArdle, W David George, Colin S McArdle, David C Smith, Alastair R Moodie, A V Mark Hughson, and Gordon D Murray
BMJ 1996 312: 813-816. [Abstract] [Full Text]

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