June 1

Today is "Cancer Survivor Day" in Canada. If you are a cancer survivor, make sure you do something to celebrate "you" and "your survival". 

When I started my career nearly 50 years ago, the cancer rate was 1 in 33 people. Today in Canada, approximately 2 in 5 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. About 1 in 4 will die from it. The number of new cancer cases and deaths continues to increase due to the aging and growing population. 

There are signs of improvement in survival rates for many cancers especially blood cancers. Some of the most common cancers are lung, breast, prostate and colorectal. Nova Scotia has a higher mortality rate for all types of cancer. Ontario has the highest number of new cancer cases. BC and Alberta have the lowest rates of cancer deaths. 

When I joined the Waves of Hope Dragon Boat team I was introduced to not only a new activity, but dozens of breast cancer survivors. These women are so inspirational. I had trouble wrapping my head around the fact that there were so many women that had survived breast cancer, some for decades. I am just so blessed to be part of this team as a supporter. The support for each other is incredible, they paddle as breast cancer survivors; they promote breast cancer awareness and early detection. They absolutely love to paddle and be together. 

I love the story behind how paddling and dragon boats started. In 1996, Dr. Don McKenzie, a highly qualified sports medicine doctor, challenged the medical thinking regarding exercise and women that were being treated for breast cancer. Medicine at that time believed that women who had lymph nodes removed shouldn't do repetitive upper body motion, even raking leaves and cutting vegetables may cause lymphedema.  

Dr. Don went against the norm and developed a program to determine the impact of exercise on breast cancer survivors. He felt that dragon boat paddling would require strenuous, repetitive upper body exercise. He then went on to train 24 women in the gym and on the water paddling on a dragon boat. He founded the very first cancer dragon boat in the world, "Abreast in the Boat". At the end of the three months on the water, none of these women had lymphedema. This research by Dr. Don and others have proven that exercise like paddling a dragon boat is good medicine and cannot only improve the paddlers mental health but also reduce the risk of recurrence of breast cancer. 

The women found they were fitter, healthier and happier. They loved the support from their team members and felt in control of their lives. They realized that dragon boat paddling could become a means to raise awareness of breast cancer and for the survivors to lead normal lives. 

Since that time dragon boat racing is worldwide. Dr. Don continues to research the effect of exercise and lymphedema. I heard him speak on his newest research which is based on the positive effects of exercise during cancer treatments.

                                                 

I have found this concept of exercise and cancer extremely interesting. During my career I have had the opportunity to attend conferences on cancer and palliative care. The one thing that I was always particularly interested in was cancer growth and oxygen. At the conferences the use of hypobaric chambers was discussed as a form of cancer treatment. It is a simple concept, when you breathe, oxygen is carried throughout the body to feed the cells. Cancer cells also need oxygen to survive, which is one reason why tumors make new vessels that tap into blood supply. Since tumors often grow quickly, they will outgrow their oxygen supply, but that surprisingly does not always inhibit their growth. Studies show that some cancers may thrive and resist treatment when they become starved of oxygen. 

Having an opportunity to flood your body with oxygen in a hypobaric chamber is not feasible and according to my google search is still being researched. When you exercise you supply extra oxygen to your body. It is so effective in making the lungs and heart stronger. I have always felt that if there were ever a time for a high hemoglobin it would be while receiving treatments. Having a nice high hemoglobin during treatments only makes sense. The more hemoglobin the more the oxygen is carried. Besides you feel so much better at any time when your hemoglobin is high. 

The reality is, when a person is going through cancer treatments it is such a grueling time for them. I can't even imagine how they would ever be able to include exercise into their life. My theory of how exercise increases the oxygen level in the body is for after treatments.    

I have been able to watch the effects of exercise after treatments and how it seems to be helping remission with a couple of friends. One is my friend from the gym who just a year ago was taking treatments. During the end of her treatments, she missed a few weeks coming to the gym but only a few. She had a modified program, but she was there. To watch her now, you would never have known she was in a fight for her life a year ago. She was such an inspiration, by her simple presence we all worked harder. 

I also know a young man who was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer. He had aggressive treatment and currently is in remission. Being in remission is probably a miracle in itself. This guy has always been someone who runs everywhere and loves to be in the gym. He is back doing just that, filling his body with oxygen. When we talk about his cancer, I assure him he is the reason for his remission. His reply is, "it is all I know how to do".  

The irony here is that this is being written by someone who is not fond of exercise at all. Promoting exercise is not something I do. But it does work with my theory. 

I realize today is for the survivors. I am sure everyone reading this knows someone who is in a battle with cancer, one they may not win. I wish it was as simple as "more oxygen". For me, being introduced to Dr. Don and his theories have provided me with a place for my theory to land. There can be dozens of theories out there, but the bottom line is, cancer has a mind of its own. The reality is cancer does not care who you are or what you have going on in your life. I have always said people with cancer are the bravest people I know. Their body is under attack, and they have to fight back. People rally around them and do as much as they can, but the battle is fought from within. Wouldn't it be wonderful if every person with cancer gets to be a survivor and celebrate days like today. Maybe one day.