Perceptions of Support Groups Among Older Breast Cancer Survivors: "I've Heard of Them, but I've Never Felt the Need to Go".

The sample was mostly white and came from Southern California, so it may not show how women from other cultural backgrounds or regions view support groups. The study focused only on professionally-led, in-person groups, so it does not tell how survivors might view online, peer-led, education-only, or differently run groups. It reports perceptions and reasons for non-use, not measured outcomes, so it cannot show whether support groups improve survivorship or whether changing promotion increases attendance. All participants had started anti-hormonal treatment and had loco-regional breast cancer, so findings may not apply to women with other cancers, other treatments, or more advanced disease.

The authors reported no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Do not read this as evidence that support groups are ineffective or that older survivors do not need support. The study reports why these women avoided professionally-led groups; it did not measure group outcomes or test a new way of offering groups.