What do you think or feel when you hear the words ‘Cancer Support Group’?

Sara Spinks, Wigwam Cancer Support Groups Coordinator

Do you want to stop reading? I would have when I was diagnosed with breast cancer nearly 7 years ago. I just didn’t connect with the idea. It wasn’t for me and I don’t even really know why. I just wanted to deal with my diagnosis in my own way and, like many of you taking an integrative/ holistic approach, I was on a very steep learning curve. I was fiercely independent in my self-sufficiency and strategy for survival.

I had an idea of what a Cancer Support Group was but I didn’t really know. It was just a ‘club’ I didn’t really want to be a member of.

When I later considered it for my own wellbeing, I didn’t feel worthy of a place as eventually I was diagnosed as Stage 1 and felt that many more would be more ‘deserving’ and need the place more than me.

So what changed?

Like many of you, I learned more and more about what supports our foundational health and healing holistically. I had early stage cancer, but quickly understood some of my deeper health issues that I hadn’t considered before and with curiosity I was exploring every single possibility.

On top of quickly reviewing my daily habits around nutrition, exercise and detoxification, I learned the powerful influence of the mind, our emotions, relationships, stress and the way we operate and feel in our lives. Within this I learned about the significant positive impact of connecting with others with a shared experience of cancer and their approach to it. This led me thankfully to the Yes to Life Wigwam Support Groups that I am honoured to now manage.

So why are they so impactful?

How can group support help improve health & cancer outcomes?

Much of the supportive literature around taking an integrative approach to cancer (some of which we cover in the Yes to Life Book Club) mentions the strong evidence for the impact social support and connection has on health outcomes. Chronic stress, often compounded by feelings of isolation, can weaken the body’s ability to combat cancer.

In Dr Nasha Winter’s book, The Metabolic Approach to Cancer, she highlights the importance of social connection as part of a “terrain-centric” approach to healing, where addressing emotional and relational health is as vital as nutritional and physical interventions. She identifies social isolation as a risk factor for cancer progression, asserting that loneliness can exacerbate inflammation and stress, both of which are detrimental to cancer outcomes.

Social support systems act as a buffer against these risks by providing emotional, informational, and practical support during treatment and recovery. Evidence from studies linking social support with improved survival rates in cancer patients, such as the work by Spiegel et al., found that women with metastatic breast cancer participating in support groups lived longer and experienced less distress.

In Dr Gabor Mate’s book, When the Body Says No, he emphasises the role of authentic connections in healing. Social support is not just about proximity to others but involves relationships that allow for vulnerability, authenticity, and emotional expression.

In Anticancer Living: Transform Your Life and Health with the Mix of Six, Dr. Lorenzo Cohen and Alison Jefferies emphasise the critical role of social connection as part of their “Mix of Six” holistic framework for cancer prevention. Dr. Cohen highlights research demonstrating that cancer patients with strong social ties experience better survival rates. He reveals that loneliness and isolation contribute to worse prognosis, while group-based support interventions improve quality of life and mental health.

James Maskell in his book, The Role of Social Connection in Health: The Community Cure, talks of the power of community and groups to support health. He asserts that traditional one-on-one medical models fail to address the root causes of illness such as stress and isolation effectively. He references studies showing that peer-support groups significantly improve outcomes for chronic disease patients, including cancer survivors.

How does group support improve cancer outcomes?

The 3 key biological explanations for improved cancer outcomes, lower risk of cancer progression and recurrence include:

• Lower stress hormone dysregulation
• Reduced inflammation
• Improved immune system function

It has been found that group-based support interventions improve quality of life and mental health.  But there is also a transformative potential within them as the groups serve as a foundation for shared resilience and personal growth.

Empowerment & emotional support – processing what we are going through outside of our own networks (family & friends)

• Validation of our feelings – Feeling understood and less alone. Group settings can help normalise experiences.
• Feeling heard – Groups provide an environment where individuals can share without judgment, helping regain a sense of control over their narrative.
• Resilience – Being with others with a shared experience can foster hope and emotional strength
• Increased confidence – Support groups empower participants to advocate for themselves and make informed decisions about their care
• Encouragement to take action – Seeing others take proactive steps inspires participants to engage more actively in their own recovery journey
• Encouragement of healthy behaviours – members motivate each other to maintain positive lifestyle changes, such as balanced nutrition or regular physical activity

 Improved mental health

• Lower anxiety and depression – studies show participation in support groups reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety in cancer patients and survivors
• Positive coping mechanisms – members learn healthier ways to cope with stress, fear and uncertainty
• Hope and optimism – hearing stories of resilience and recovery can inspire hope

 Education

• Insight into treatment options – Members often share their experiences with various treatments, side effects, and coping strategies
• Problem-solving tips – Participants exchange tips for managing daily life with cancer, including nutrition, exercise, and self-care routines
• Sign-posting – Members often share information about services they have used, including healthcare practitioners and resources

Social connection

• Reducing isolation – Support groups offer a safe space to connect with others who understand their struggles
• Building community – Lifelong friendships often form, creating a network of care and connection beyond the group setting
• Sense of belonging – Groups help participants feel part of a supportive community with shared goals and challenges

Improved communication with loved ones

• Insights into sharing experiences – Groups often offer strategies for discussing cancer openly with family and friends
• Support for caregivers – At Yes to Life we have a Group dedicated to caregivers, helping them navigate their roles with better understanding and empathy.

But surely there are some drawbacks in joining a Cancer Support Group?

It would be remiss of us not to mention some of the ways that groups can affect us in more negative ways. Cancer is a sensitive topic and some of us just don’t want to feel a ‘member of a C club’!

Emotional challenges

• Hearing difficult stories – Listening to others’ experiences, especially those involving setbacks or loss, especially if we lose a Group member, can heighten fear, anxiety, or feelings of hopelessness
• Triggering of negative emotions – Discussing cancer openly may bring up unresolved feelings or deepen emotional distress for some participants
• Reluctance to share – Individuals who are private or introverted may find it difficult to open up in a group setting

Mismatch of needs

• Different cancer types or stages – Members may feel that their specific experience isn’t fully understood if others in the group have a different diagnosis or are at a different stage of treatment or recovery. While this has been mentioned occasionally, it is not the overall experience and we have therefore kept a mix in our groups.

Fear of comparison

• Comparison stress – Some individuals may feel discouraged by comparing their own progress to others in the group, leading to feelings of inadequacy or frustration
• Survivor’s guilt – Seeing others struggle or hearing about poor outcomes can evoke feelings of guilt for those who are doing relatively well. We often see this in people feeling their experience isn’t as important as others’. We work hard to ensure everyone has the space to process what’s going on for them and that all feelings are heard without judgement.

Stigma or shame

• Perceived vulnerability – Some people may feel that joining a support group signals weakness or an inability to cope independently
• Cultural or social stigma – In certain cultures or communities, discussing personal health issues in a group setting might be discouraged

Fear of reliving trauma

• Reluctance to revisit the experience: Some people prefer to focus on moving forward and worry that participating in a support group might keep them emotionally tied to their diagnosis. While this is one of the key reasons people move on from our Groups, we have people who are way beyond their treatment ending.
• Desire to avoid labelling – They may not want to identify solely as a “cancer patient” or “survivor” and feel that a support group reinforces this label.

So while peer-to-peer Cancer Support Groups provide valuable health, emotional and practical benefits, they are not universally suited to everyone. Individual preferences, energy levels, and emotional needs should guide the decision to participate.

At Yes to Life we always listen to feedback to aim to ensure that the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks. But it’s of course important that you listen into what’s right for you and your health.

How can Yes to Life help?

At Yes to Life we offer several groups (online and in-person), all Facilitated by our wonderful Volunteers. These are Yes to Life ambassadors who’ve lived, or are living with, the experience of cancer and have taken an integrative approach to their treatment and health.

We know that our peer-to-peer cancer support groups are a powerful tool in holistic cancer care, providing emotional sustenance, practical resources, and a sense of community that can profoundly enhance the healing journey.

We very much look forward to supporting you in this way.

Please follow the link for more information and to register: www.yestolife.org.uk/cancer-support-groups/