'Hands of Time': the experience of establishing a support group for people affected by mesothelioma.

Expertise and management of mesothelioma are known to vary throughout the UK. The support needs of people with mesothelioma and their family members are poorly understood and poorly met. Support group participation can contribute to the supportive care of people with cancer and their family members by improving adaptation and reinforcing effective coping strategies. This paper describes the initial experience of establishing a support group for people affected by mesothelioma. The structure and process of developing and running the group are described and the challenges involved are discussed. The findings of a small evaluation of the group are presented.