A psychosocial intervention for patients with soft tissue sarcoma

Support groups have increasingly been demonstrated to be an effective intervention in reducing psychological difficulties and emotional problems in patients with cancer. This report describes a pilot support group intervention based upon a modified version of Cain and colleagues' (1986) thematic counseling model for patients who have been treated for soft tissue sarcoma and are free of disease. The modified thematic counseling model consisted of eight group sessions that focused on providing information about soft tissue sarcoma, management of stress, relaxation techniques, and coping skills. In addition, time was set aside for general discussion of personal concerns. Common themes reported by patients were: communication with family, friends and physicians, anxiety about lack of information about soft tissue sarcoma, and major financial disruption because of their illness. At the conclusion of the eighth session, patients were given an informal survey and asked to rate the value of different aspects of the program for them. They reported that feelings of isolation, anger, depression, and anxiety significantly decreased; and their level of self-confidence increased dramatically. This pilot support group intervention is recommended as a model for enhancing the quality of life of patients with soft tissue sarcoma.