Understanding Shared Psychobiological Pathways

The education group meetings focused on providing patients with information about their disease as well as methods to manage their illness and its side effects. Facilitators emphasized the theme of perceived control during all sessions, discussing how participants are in control of their illness experience and can have more control of their lives. A different topic was addressed in each session. Weekly homework assignments asked patients to write down something new they had learned from the session regarding how to take control of their lives. Meeting topics were as follows: Overview of breast cancer, treatment types and side effects, nutrition and diet management, exercise, body image, communication issues, relationships, and sexuality.

The peer support group meetings focused on fostering purpose in life by providing participants with opportunities to support and care for one another. Patients completed a weekly diary of critical experiences or current life problems as homework, and were then encouraged to share these experiences in the group meetings. The group facilitator encouraged participants to help one another with these issues, and share how they had dealt with similar problems.