From Diagnosis to Dragon Boats: Breast Cancer Survivors Find Power in Paddling

This past weekend, I had the incredible privilege of cheering on my team, the Pink Dragon Boat Team, a group of fierce and resilient breast cancer survivors, at the Dragon Boat Festival races on September 6-7. Watching them conquer race after race with grit, strength, and an unbreakable will to keep moving through adversity filled me with deep emotion.

As I stood there, cheering them on, my mind wandered back to my own journey—diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, then progressing to stage IV metastatic cancer in 2019. The memories are still fresh, but the perspective has shifted. Thanks to a combination of exercise, faith, improved nutrition, and a “miracle” drug, Enhertu (produced by AstraZeneca), I’m living with cancer in a way I never thought possible. What once felt like a death sentence has transformed into a course correction—an opportunity to refocus on what matters most, like helping others and building community.

That’s exactly what I see when I look at my team—the unwavering bond between these women, who, despite their individual battles, paddle together toward strength, hope, and healing. Their victory wasn’t just about finishing the race—it was about showing up, together.

Breast cancer dragon boating is an international, community-based sport where breast cancer survivors paddle dragon boats to foster physical and mental well-being, combat isolation, and raise awareness for the disease. Inspired by Canadian Dr. Don McKenzie's 1996 study that challenged the belief that strenuous upper-body exercise would lead to lymphedema after breast cancer, the movement provides a supportive and empowering environment for survivors. Organizations like the International Breast Cancer Paddlers' Commission (IBCPC) and the United States Dragon Boat Federation (USDBF) support the development of breast cancer paddling teams, enabling survivors to regain strength, connect with others, and thrive after their diagnosis.

Learn more about Pink Phoenix Dragon Boat Team if you live in Portland, Oregon or southern Washingon. 

I’m excited to one day race with them as a full-fledged paddler. Once my platelets and anemia cooperate, I’ll be there, experiencing the joy and sense of camaraderie they feel as they race, laugh, and bond. For now, I’ll continue to cheer them on, and hope that my journey, just like theirs, inspires others to find strength in community, no matter the odds.