Category: Articles

A recent study conducted by Dr Andrea Smith and colleagues published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship has revealed that professionally led support groups for individuals with advanced or metastatic cancer are effective in reducing mood disturbances, distress and pain amongst patients. Successful implementation depends on factors such as leadership expertise, operational methods and resource…

A recent commentary by eminent researchers Lesley Fallowfield and Valerie Jenkins from the UK note that improvement in breast cancer treatments and outcomes “have not led to similar benefits  in the psychosocial, functional and sexual-well being of women.” They note there has been far less research in metastatic breast cancer compared to early disease, which…

Our effectiveness study ‘Supportive-expressive group therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer: Improving Access for Australian women through use of teleconference’  published in Counselling and Psychotherapy Research in 2008 is cited in Bergen and Garfield’s Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behaviour Change, 6th Ed. (2013). It is one of 23 international studies cited investigating the efficacy and…

When breast cancer is diagnosed the immediate focus, of course, concerns treatment, surgery, restoration, and future management. Supportive and Palliative Care however, may be useful at any stage of illness. Palliative Care referral is often made late in an illness, after months or years of treatment, when symptoms such as pain are difficult to control….

Click here to download the full report as a PDF The Cancer Council Queensland is dedicated to eliminating cancer and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, treatment, patient care and prevention and early detection.1 Part of this commitment includes informing Queenslanders of the latest available data on cancer. This report is the fourth in a…

Dr David Spiegel outlined the goals of supportive-expressive group therapy (SEGT) in his book Group Therapy for Cancer Patients published in 2000 by Basic Books. Dr Spiegel, Stanford University, pioneered the use of SEGT with women with breast cancer and is the model we use for the group. Goals include: Overcoming isolation – like Margaret,…

As the facilitators running the group we are often asked what the group is like. We have a strong sense of what groups can provide, and in particular what this group offers these women dealing with this illness. The Group offers women a sense of belonging and comfort, the opportunity to help others and share experiences.

Removal of Primary Tumor in Metastatic Breast Cancer May Prolong Survival

September 21, 2009 (Berlin, Germany) — Surgical removal of the primary tumor in patients with metastatic breast cancer — which is not currently standard practice — could greatly improve survival. According to data from 1 study presented here at the 15th Congress of the European CanCer Organization and the 34th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Multidisciplinary Congress, tumor removal was associated with a doubling of overall survival.