Dr. Spiegel and colleagues found no difference in overall survival between the two groups. Women who received supportive group therapy survived a median of 31 months, while group that received educational literature survived a median of 33 months. Further analysis did show a clear benefit for women with ER-negative tumors. Median survival in women with ER-negative tumors who received group therapy was 21 months longer than those who received educational literature (30 months versus 9 months). There was no survival benefit from psychotherapy treatment among women with ER-positive tumors. These women have benefited from improved hormonal treatments, such as aromatase inhibitors.
While there was no overall survival difference due to group therapy, Dr. Spiegel and colleagues point to the clear psychological benefit of group psychotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer, writing that “being confronted with their ‘worst fears’ as they see others die of the same illness, with help in managing the strong emotions that understandably arise, is emotionally helpful for patients and not physically harmful.”
Source-Eurekalert
SRM/C