Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39048845›Full record

ArticleJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2026

Finding my tribe: a qualitative interview study of how people living with metastatic breast cancer perceive support groups.

Grace M Mackie, Frances Boyle, Sophie Lewis, Andrea L Smith

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. "We are champions": an investigation on how cancer support group propels patient advocacy, voices, education, mentorship, and support.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Grace M MackieFaculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Frances BoyleFaculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Sophie LewisFaculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Andrea L SmithThe Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. andrea.smith@sydney.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis study explored the value of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) support groups, and factors that affect attendance, from the perspective of people with MBC.

methodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 women with MBC (support group attendees n = 16; non-attendees n = 12) between January 2022 and July 2023. Data were analysed using an inductive approach to thematic analysis.

resultsThree themes were generated: the value of sharing experiential knowledge, spaces for open and honest conversations, and opportunities to find connection and community. These factors were the main reasons that some participants valued, and chose to attend, an MBC support group. Stage-specificity and professional facilitation were identified as important aspects of group structure. Key reasons for non-attendance were concerns about misinformation, confronting the death of group members, and satisfaction with existing support networks.

conclusionsMBC support groups are beneficial for some people with MBC, providing opportunities to connect with others with the same diagnosis. For others, different forms of peer support such as online forums or one-on-one support may be preferred. We argue that ensuring those with MBC have equal access to the peer support they need will be essential in supporting people to live as well as possible with MBC. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: MBC support groups, if appropriately led, can provide emotional and informational benefits for people with MBC. This research may also have relevance to other metastatic cancers where novel therapies are extending survival, resulting in an emerging cancer population with distinct supportive and survivorship needs.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsCancer SurvivorsSelf-Help GroupsSocial SupportAdultAgedFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMiddle AgedNeoplasm MetastasisQualitative ResearchAdvanced breast cancerMetastatic breast cancerMetastatic survivorshipPsychosocial supportSupport groups

Identifiers

PMID39048845
PMCPMC12906536

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.