Social Support On Cancer

The Impact of Social Support on Cancer Research has shown that individuals who suffer from cancer fare better if they have a network of social support surrounding them. Social support may manifest itself by allowing cancer patients to personalize with their illness, express their emotions and receive supportive interactions. As a result, they may develop more effective and active coping skills. Bloom, Stewart, Johnston, Banks, and Fobair (2001) conducted a study which assessed the role of support in the physical and mental well-being of young women with breast cancer. Results indicated that emotional support played a significant role in protecting the patient from the negative effects of stress and, as such, improved their physical and
Grassi and Rosti (1996) examined the role of psychosocial variables in fostering abnormal illness behaviour. Results showed that both psychological symptoms and personality characteristics were significantly correlated to the development of an illness-type behaviour. It was shown that the cancer patients became detrimentally aware of their cancer by denying other events in their lives. As a result, the progression of their cancer worsened and they were less likely to undergo chemotherapy. Following these results, it can be interpreted that social support benefits a cancer patient by allowing them to develop a more positive framework of their situation. Clearly, upon diagnosis of the disease, individuals may feel isolated and cheated by their own body. Social support may allow the patients to change their perception of the stresses in their life and consequently develop a more positive and optimistic view. By positively reframing their experience, biological changes could ensue as a result of the diminished stress. Therefore, social support could increase the patient’s awareness of the psychobiology of his or her situation and the benefits of a mind-body perspective may be
Salivary cortisol levels in 103 women with metastatic breast cancer was measured. Results indicated that the mean salivary cortisol was negatively related to quality and quantity of social support. Knowing that lower cortisol concentrations are indicative of healthier neuroendocrine functioning, it can be inferred that social support not only benefits a patient’s mental well-being as demonstrated in both Bloom et al. and Grassi et al.’s studies, but also benefits a patient’s immune