How do support groups benefit cancer patients emotionally and mentally?

People who are diagnosed with cancer need extensive emotional support and mental support during every stage of the cancer journey. It helps them to stay physically, mentally and emotionally healthy as desired. The support system may include family, friends and caregivers will make all the difference. 

The role of emotional and mental support

• Cancer patients can experience a wide range of symptoms including  side effects of the treatment. Even though major symptoms and side effects are physical but not all. 
• Receiving a cancer diagnosis can bring about chaos on a person’s mental health and emotional health. Regardless of the type of cancer a person or patient is suffering or diagnosed , he or she is likely to run the spectrum of emotions.
• It’s not abnormal to feel sad, guilty or angry. People who are going through treatment of cancer may get a question in their mind as to why it’s happened to them—a question has to be answered with a good answer.
• Anyone who is facing an emotionally challenging time will expect some people to be on our side as support. The benefits of emotional support for cancer patients is way far beyond that.
• A research report explained that having a support system with the patients will benefit in multiple ways gaining self confidence. Those who get the support of family and friends cannot feel socially isolated, which can improve the mental health of a cancer patient resulting in early recovery from the symptoms and to the cancer disease.
• Receiving a strong network of support can enhance patients' attempts through complex emotions which provide a sounding board and a listening ear. 
• Cancer outcomes may be improved in a wide range, if a cancer patient has abundant social support from family, friends or caregivers.

It is true that different support systems consist of family members and friends providing emotional support  and also giving access to “peer support” through various support groups. These peer support networks will have cancer survivors to provide emotional and mental support.