Roaring to recovery

Eighteen breast cancer survivors sat side by side in a 600-pound dragon boat, paddling rhythmically to the beat of their drummer. Behind them, the evening sun was perched above a lingering storm cloud, casting silvery crescent-shaped wisps that glittered across White Bear Lake. Ahead of them, a rainbow arched across the sky.

"This is a different kind of support group -- an action-oriented support group," said Mary Skrypek, who started a Dragon Divas boat-racing team for breast cancer survivors in the Twin Cities.

"We're sitting on boats on beautiful White Bear, breathing fresh air and exercising, getting our bodies stronger and restoring the faith that our bodies will do the right thing," she said. "We're showing the community you can live with breast cancer. We're showing it's a part of who we are but does not define us. You can go back and do the things you want to do and participate in life."

Of the more than 50 members, some women are young and others are old. Some are undergoing treatment while others have had a clean bill of health for 20 years. Some are in tip-top shape and some have never exercised before.

But they all share a certain understanding. "It's a bunch of women who have gone through the same experiences and understand exactly what you are going through," said teammate Judith Trudel. "You don't have to explain. We all know."

The beautiful sport of dragon boat racing originated in China more than 2,500 years ago. The dragon, molded into the shape of a 40-foot canoe-like vessel, symbolizes protection from evil and disease. A drummer beats out the cadence of the race on a large drum nestled inside the craft. Teams of 18 to 23 people paddle to the beat of the drum for an average race of 300 to 500 meters. Competitions are held worldwide.

Breast cancer and upper-body exercise didn't always go together. For many years, people were afraid that upper-body exercise would cause lymphedema, a dreaded and disfiguring condition that starts in the lymph system. But Dr. Donald McKenzie, an exercise physiologist at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, thought it made more sense that upper-body activity would improve the lymph system.

He began research and then trained the first group of breast cancer survivors to compete in the 1996 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships.

"The goal was really just to prove that women could get back into life after breast cancer and didn't need to sit on the sidelines worrying about lymphedema, if they got themselves onto a proper exercise program," said McKenzie's longtime research assistant, Diana Jespersen.

McKenzie's studies showed that when done correctly, repetitive upper-body physical activity wasn't a problem. Soon, dragon boat racing teams comprising breast cancer survivors started popping up worldwide -- in fact, the breast cancer survivor division is the fastest-growing area of the sport, according to Skrypek.

The benefits of exercise on cancer and recovery is an exciting topic in research today, said Colleen Doyle, director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society. The research is clear, Doyle said, that exercise is safe and feasible, improves quality of life by reducing anxiety and depression, and counters fatigue. It's also known that being overweight post-diagnosis increases the risk of breast cancer recurrence and decreases survival rates, she said.

Although cancer survivors should begin a regimen with care and patience, the American Cancer Society recommends they work toward getting at least 30 minutes of moderate activity five or more days per week -- the same as it recommends for cancer prevention.

Team Diva

When Skrypek, a physical therapist with HealthEast Care Systems, heard about the studies and the team in Vancouver, she decided to start a team in the Twin Cities in 2006.

"That study -- it was like a beacon of hope for women with breast cancer, that they can do what they want and do what they enjoy and just be smart about it," she said. A few fliers and meetings later, Dragon Divas were dipping their paddles in the water.

The Divas have found boats to rent each summer (though they hope to own one someday to avoid the continuing costs). One of Skrypek's co-workers, Robin Nicholson, offered her home and dock off White Bear Lake for the team's weekly practices. Ron Soppeland volunteered to be helmsman. (It's a good deal for him, he jokes, because out on the water he gets to tell women what to do and they actually listen. Off the water, he said, it's another story.)

And Geeta Krishnan-Wilson, a former competitive racer, came aboard to coach. Personal trainers and yoga instructors have helped the team with conditioning, and HealthEast opens the doors of its physical therapy facilities for the Divas to use after business hours at no cost. Fundraising covers the cost for the boat, equipment, out-of-town race weekends and entry fees.

Although the divas don't spend a lot of time talking about breast cancer, they're quick to act. The women make each other meals and run errands when someone's sick. They send cards and visit one another in the hospital. They pat each other on the back, make each other laugh and push one another to new places.

When Carol Rohrer joined the Dragon Divas two years ago, she found them welcoming, positive, energetic and delightful. Said Rohrer, "At the end of every practice, I'm just smiling."

Sarah Moran is a freelance health writer in Minneapolis.