Team training as a predictor of reduced recurrence among breast cancer survivors participating in survivor dragon boating

Terry Mitchell, PhD, Director of the Centre of Community Research Learning and Action and Associate Professor, department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario Canada

One of the most exciting research presentations at the Reach to Recovery Conference in May 2009 was by Dr Terry Mitchell, Associate Professor Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, Canada, near Peterborough.

Terry’s findings on women who did regular exercise with their dragon boating team (2-3 times weekly to a high degree) had a lower rate of recurrence than women who exercised alone.

The group dynamics gave women the emotional strength to regain their body image, confidence and sense of accomplishment and shifting priorities. It gave them permission to focus on themselves instead of others (ie they had to go to training so they didn’t let the team down). They suffered less stress and trauma than other women with breast cancer post treatment and improved quality of life not related to the stage of illness.