In February 1996, to emphasize a belief that exercise is beneficial for breast cancer survivors and to increase breast cancer awareness, the first Breast Cancer Survivors Dragon Boat of Vancouver, B.C., team was formed. At the time, Dr. Donald McKenzie did not agree with the common belief that women who had undergone breast cancer surgery and treatments should not do upper body exercise because it would cause lymphedema and tissue damage. He felt the opposite was true, and with a grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada, set out to prove his theory that repetitive upper body exercise had positive outcomes for breast cancer survivors. 

Paddling proved not only very healthy for the women physically, it also provided a profoundly positive mental and emotional shift in their outlook. "During most breast cancer treatment, you are passive," states Dr. McKenzie "The most active you are is swallowing a pill. You are not doing anything and you are not in control. Here was something you can do that would improve your health, and you are in control. It makes such a difference when you are able to say, 'Here's something I can control.'"

Dragon Boat Racing is an ancient Chinese ceremony that symbolizes man's struggle with nature and his fight against deadly enemies. Dragon boats are large canoe-like boats with a crew of 20-26 paddlers, a steers person, and a drummer. At the end of the modern day dragon boat race, competing breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams salute each other. The social bonds created between breast cancer dragon boat racers have proven to be as psychologically beneficial as the physical benefits in preventing lymphedema. The study article, Abreast in a boat -- a race against breast cancer, is available as a PDF document.