[Psychological management of breast cancer patients in a group. I. The concept].

The carcinoma of the breast is considered a very stressing life event for the women and is often followed by depressive reactions, fears and doubts in the worth of the individual self. Aside of the medical treatment psychosocial support of the carcinoma patients is important for a successful coping strategy. At home many women have founded self-guided groups to give this support to each other. The official rehabilitation-concepts of the social insurances in Germany also consider psychosocial support a very important factor for an adequate treatment of the breast carcinoma. The Reha-Klinik Damp has established group meetings for women suffering of breast carcinoma to give them the opportunity of support in coping with the physical and psychosocial changes that follow their disease. The underlying concept of these group meetings is being described and explained in the text.