The benefits of support group participation to lung cancer survivors--an evaluation

It has been known for some time that participation in support groups is beneficial for most cancer survivors. Despite this, and even though lung cancer causes more deaths than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined, the number of support groups formed for lung cancer survivors is surprisingly very small. In an effort to understand the lack of lung cancer specific support groups, the Alliance for Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, and Education (ALCASE) conducted a survey of the facilitators of the lung cancer support groups then known to be in existence in the United States, in addition to a follow-up focus group with the facilitators via teleconference. The results of the survey and the focus group provide a very preliminary look at the value to lung cancer survivors of participating in support groups organized specifically for them. However, much more research is required, not only with the participants of these groups, but also with lung cancer survivors who do not participate, to fully gauge the effects of support group participation on the progress of their disease and on their quality of life.