'Hands of Time': the experience of establishing a support group for people affected by mesothelioma

S Moore1, C Teehan, A Cornwall

  • 1Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road Sutton, Surrey, UK. sally.moore@rmh.nhs.uk

Expertise and management of mesothelioma are known to vary throughout the UK. The support needs of people with mesothelioma and their family members are poorly understood and poorly met. Support group participation can contribute to the supportive care of people with cancer and their family members by improving adaptation and reinforcing effective coping strategies. This paper describes the initial experience of establishing a support group for people affected by mesothelioma. The structure and process of developing and running the group are described and the challenges involved are discussed. The findings of a small evaluation of the group are presented.

Related Concept Videos

Self-Help Support Groups01:28

Self-Help Support Groups

Self-help support groups are voluntary, community-based organizations that provide a platform for individuals with shared concerns to exchange support, insights, and practical strategies for coping with life challenges. Typically led by group members or paraprofessionals, these groups form a cornerstone of mental health care, especially in reaching populations that are underserved by traditional healthcare systems.
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...
Healthcare Agencies I01:18

Healthcare Agencies I

Healthcare agencies provide healthcare services to people. In the United States, voluntary agencies are often non-profit centers sponsored by donations, grants, or fundraisers. One such organization is Meals on Wheels, which provides meals to the elderly and homebound. The American Heart Association and the American Lung Association are other non-profit community organizations. Doctors and nurses are frequently active members of these organizations, which offer health checks and educational...
Pleural Disorders: Types and Brief Description01:30

Pleural Disorders: Types and Brief Description

The pleura is a vital part of the respiratory system. It's a double-layered membrane surrounding the lungs and lining the chest cavity. The two layers of the pleura are:
Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch01:15

Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch

The history of therapeutic communication can be traced back to Florence Nightingale, who emphasized the importance of developing trusting relationships with patients. She taught that the presence of nurses with patients results in therapeutic healing.
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
Group Therapy01:26

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a sociocultural approach to psychological treatment, where individuals with shared psychological challenges come together under the guidance of a mental health professional. This therapeutic modality offers unique opportunities for individuals to connect, share, and grow within the context of a supportive group. By fostering mutual understanding and collaboration, group therapy can address a range of psychological concerns effectively, often complementing or surpassing the...
Bonanno's Theory of Grieving01:17

Bonanno's Theory of Grieving

Grieving is a complex psychological and emotional process that varies significantly among individuals. George Bonanno's research on bereavement identified four distinct patterns of grieving, offering a nuanced understanding of how people cope with significant loss, such as the death of a spouse, over extended periods. These patterns — resilience, recovery, chronic dysfunction, and delayed grief — highlight the diversity in emotional responses and adaptive mechanisms.
Resilience
The resilience...