Small group meetings of people facing similar challenges help many people in managing distress and side effects of cancer treatments.
How can support groups and interventions help you? What the research says
Learn more about how we research and rate therapies and practices in How We Rate Therapies ›
For additional research not specific to people with cancer, see Are you a health professional? ›
Improving treatment outcomes
Are support groups and intervnetions linked to improved survival? Are they linked to less cancer growth or metastasis? Do they enhance the anticancer action of other treatments or therapies? We present the evidence.
Optimizing your body terrain
Do support groups and interventions promote an environment within your body that is less supportive of cancer development, growth, or spread? We present the evidence.
Research has only begun studying the connections between body terrain factors and cancer outcomes, and the oncology community is not yet sure how to interpret all the findings. If any of these terrain factors could be an issue for you, we recommend that you ask your doctor if you need any diagnostic tests to detect terrain imbalances or any adjustments to your lifestyle or medications.
We also recommend that you share with your doctor the information here about how support groups and interventions might affect these terrain factors if you have any imbalances.
Managing side effects and promoting wellness
Are support groups and interventions linked to fewer or less severe side effects or symptoms? Are they linked to less toxicity from cancer treatment? Do they support your quality of life or promote general well-being? We present the evidence.
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