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Katherine Puckett, Ph.D.
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VIDEO: Katherine Puckett, Ph.D. - Support Groups, Are They Beneficial For Women With Cancer?

Katherine Puckett, Ph.D. explains if support groups, in addition to traditional cancer treatments, are helpful for women.

Katherine Puckett, Ph.D.:
There is growing evidence that using support groups for women going through cancer can be helpful, both psychologically and physically.

There was a study done probably two decades ago showing that women with breast cancer who participated in support groups actually lived longer. There have been some intervening studies that brought that into question. All studies haven’t had the same results, but I just read about a study very recently in the last few weeks actually, showing evidence that women who were involved in support groups and supportive connections like that, actually faired better with cancer treatment.

Why is that? People really appreciate the chance to share with each other what they’re going through, and when people sit together and having and using caring connections like that it actually stimulates changes in our brain and in our immune system.

Our immune system can send out different kinds of hormones and response to what we’re doing. It can send out the cortisol, which is the stress hormone, and that can get boosted if we’re really feeling stressed out.

If we’re calmer, it sends out a different hormone, the DHEA, which helps us then feel calmer. So, they’re actually biochemical responses that happen in the body when people are using supportive, caring relationships in that way.

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