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Group Therapy Linked to Cancer Survival
Study finds improved survival rates among breast cancer patients
By Jess Kilby
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Posted Nov 17, 08 5:46 AM CST
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(Newser)
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Group therapy has been linked to improved survival rates among female participants with breast cancer, a new study has found. Findings appear to support the decades-old, controversial claim that psychological therapy can help cancer patients not only feel better emotionally, but survive longer and fight off recurrences of the disease, Reuters reports.
The study tracked 227 women with breast cancer, half of whom took part in a year of therapy. Eleven years later, the therapy recipients were 56% less likely than the non-recipients to have died of their cancer and 45% less likely to have experienced a recurrence. Researchers say therapy might help boost the immune system by reducing stress.