Group Therapy Helps Breast Cancer Patients

A recent research conducted by researchers in United States have found that psychological group therapy for women with breast cancer helps them to cope better with their disease and also helps them to live longer.

The research was conducted in Ohio State University’s and led by Barbara Andersen. They  studied 227 women with breast cancer. Patients were divided into two groups. One group took part in a year of therapy in groups of eight to 12 patients led by two clinical psychologists, while the other did not.

After 11 years, the women who participated in the group therapy were 56 percent less likely to die of breast cancer and 45 percent less likely to have their cancer return, the researchers wrote in the journal Cancer.

Psychological interventions have been found  to enhance quality of life and reduce distress.

The improved survival may stem from better immune function resulting from stress reduction, the researchers said.