VIU researcher studies impact of fly fishing on breast cancer survivors

Fly fishing isn’t usually a sport one associates with breast cancer survivors, but a team of volunteers and professionals hope to change that.

They are hosting Divas on the Fly, a weekend fly fishing retreat for women diagnosed with breast cancer on Vancouver Island and throughout BC at Tamagawa Centre in Cedar, BC (near Nanaimo) September 18 to 20.

“This event is part of a pilot research project in which we’re looking at the impact of leisure activities such as fly fishing on the quality of life of breast cancer survivors,” explained  Dr. Wayne Pealo, a professor in Vancouver Island University’s Faculty of Management. “There’s been a lot of research on the merits of dragon boating but very little on other leisure activities.”

While dragon boating can be a physically demanding team sport, fly fishing is an individual activity with a strong social component that could benefit the holistic healing process for breast cancer survivors, said Pealo.

He is part of a planning committee formed by researchers and practitioners in the fields of recreation and leisure, health and wellness, fly fishing and breast cancer research who have come together to develop and deliver the Divas on the Fly program.

“The committee will utilize existing knowledge and practices associated with the delivery of such retreats and new initiatives that will reflect a new standard of excellence in the deliverance of retreats targeted at breast cancer survivors,” said Pealo.

“The committee will also address a well defined gap in the knowledge surrounding the impacts of fly-fishing retreats for breast cancer survivors by examining the effect that they may have on the quality-of-life in participants.”

About 13 participants have already signed up. They will learn the fundamentals of fly casting and tying, entomology, knot-tying, equipment basics - but most importantly, participants will spend time on the water practicing catch-and-release fishing. Counselling and medical information will be available throughout the weekend, including an evening group session on Saturday night. Educational resources will be available, such as fly fishing opportunities and breast cancer information.

According to Pealo, fly fishing programs for breast cancer survivors have been operating successfully for the last decade. An organization called Casting for Recovery has provided 16,000 North American breast cancer survivors the opportunity to meet other survivors and receive support from medical and psychological professionals since 1996.

In 2004 Casting for Recovery held 30 retreats in the U.S. and Canada. “However, despite the attention that these programs have received from the media and the community of breast cancer survivors, no research has targeted the affect that these programs have on breast cancer survivors,” said Pealo.

He said some of the research has briefly addressed the potential of using leisure activities such as dragon boating as a mechanism to help women cope with the psychological, social and emotional impacts that breast cancer diagnosis and treatment has on survivors.

While mortality rates of women diagnosed with breast cancer have declined since the 1990’s, the Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 22,400 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and 5,300 will die of the disease.

“Increasing survivor rates mean that initiatives on non-medical support systems for breast cancer survivors are needed,” Pealo added.

The Divas on the Fly project is supported by the BC Federation of Fly Fishers, Island Waters Fly Fishing Association, Vancouver Island University, Roche Pharmaceutical, Robinsons Sporting Goods, Gone Fishin, Ellison Lake Trout Ranch, Coastal Community Credit Union and Wholesale Sports Outdoor Outfitters and Sage Canada.

Pealo hopes the retreat will become an annual event on Vancouver Island. For more information about the project, contact Dr. Pealo at 250-753-3245, or email wayne.pealo@viu.ca.