Multiple family groups for adult cancer survivors and their families: a 1-day workshop model

Abstract

With marked advances in early detection and aggressive multimodality treatment, many adult cancers are now associated with good prognoses for disease-free survival. A burgeoning literature examining posttreatment quality-of-life issues has highlighted the numerous challenges experienced by patients and families in the aftermath of cancer treatment, further underscoring a need for new family-based psychosocial support interventions for cancer survivors and their families. This paper describes the clinical protocol for one such intervention, a 1-day "workshop" version of a multiple family group (MFG) for head and neck cancer survivors and their families. Data are reported from our experiences in running five 1-day workshops. Families uniformly reported that they were highly satisfied with their MFG participation, leading us to conclude that the abbreviated 1-day MFG model we are advocating is a promising family-focused support intervention for cancer survivors and their families.

Figure 1

Seating arrangement for group-within-a-group sequence. (a) Phase one: Initial gathering as whole group. (b) Phase two: Patient subgroup. (c) Phase three: Observer subgroup.

1. Family membership connoted by varied within-symbol patterns (e.g., the “Polka-Dot” family; the “Diagonal-Line” family; the “Cross-Hatched” family).

2. Illness role is connoted by either single (noncancer) or double (cancer patient) outlining.

3. Family role connoted by geometric shape (e.g., circles for wives; squares for husbands; triangles for children).

Figure 2

Two contrasting Family Collages: (a) “Bridging the cancer experience” collage; and (b) “Cancer as a hanging ball” collage. These two line drawings illustrate actual collages constructed by different families participating in our 1-day workshop multiple family groups. The original collages are multicolored with ideas and emotions expressed through colors as well as shapes. Examples of actual collages are available from the authors upon request.