CfR Casting for Recovery

by Susan Gaetz

Casting

for Recovery

(CfR) takes women out of the clinical setting and into nature to find healing and connection. Breast cancer and fly fishing might seem like an odd combination, but we’ve found fly fishing to be the perfect catalyst for healing in nature. Fly fishing is a truly accessible way to have an authentic connection in nature – regardless of physical strength or ability.

In addition, the experience of learning an entirely new skill - fly fishing - provides endless opportunities for women to be successful and build confidence. The impact is magnified when this experience occurs amongst a supportive peer group. This is especially true for those who have never attended a support group for breast cancer, or were diagnosed and treated for breast cancer during Covid-19 and were often alone in the infusion room and hospital.

A recent participant shared: “I was able to be around other women who had similar experiences with breast cancer, and learn from their journeys. I was diagnosed in March 2021, and because of the pandemic I have not been able to join a support group. I learned SO much from the other participants (and staff who had also had breast cancer). I put some of their ideas into action during chemo just yesterday, and my treatment was much less stressful. The whole CfR experience brought me from my initial anger and despair, to a new level of HOPE.”

The need for survivorship resources is growing. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women (after skin cancer), and more women are surviving the disease due to early detection and better treatments. Following diagnosis and treatment, women face long-term psychosocial and physical issues related to body disfigurement, depression, anxiety, and a compromised quality of life. The need for survivorship resources is even greater in underserved populations such as:

• Veteran and active duty servicewomen who have a 20–40% higher rate of breast cancer as compared with their civilian peers (Walter Reed Army Medical Center study, 2009)

• Women of color who have the highest breast cancer mortality rate

• Women in rural areas with limited access to health care and support resources

• Low-income and under/uninsured women

The magic of a CfR experience is the combination of learning a new skill, combined with an immersion nature and 2.5 days of oncology medical and psychosocial sup- port. Because of this, CfR retreats are described by many as life-changing.

Casting for Recovery will continue to serve as many women as possible, especially those in underserved populations, and help them find their “new level of HOPE”.

For more information, visit: www.castingforrecovery.org or reach out to Susan Gaetz,susan.gaetz@castingforrecovery.org