Robin O’Connor: Fighting Cancer with Dragon Power
I began my fight with the Cancer Beast in April 2006 while paddling with a dragon boat team in Newport Beach and preparing for competitions in China. I found the tumor during my routine breast exam. My support was my husband Pat, listening to survivors on my boat, and my special dragon boat warrior friends Andi and Wilma. I competed in China, had a successful lumpectomy and 6 weeks of radiation, and got my life back.
In January of 2020 my husband and I retired, moved to Los Osos and I joined the Central Coast SurviveOars dragon boat team. Five weeks later we were in Covid lockdown and I experienced the true friendship, camaraderie and support of the team–off the boat. For more than a year of ‘no sports’, we got together for hiking, kayaking and a lot of laughing! I found my posse.
In June 2022, the Beast returned. I was diagnosed with metastatic triple negative breast cancer. Chemo was and continues to be the only option. With the support of my posse, I started infusions, shaved my falling out hair and continued to paddle regularly with the team.
I also joined a zoom support group with the Hearst Cancer Resource Center (a nonprofit partner of CCDBA). They provide free resources like a nutritionist, support groups, wig and makeup advice and intuitive collage. I also participated in Cancer Wellfit, an exercise program specifically for cancer survivors.
With the tough realization that I will be on some sort of cancer treatment for the rest of my life, I am grateful to have all of the resources that HCRC has to offer, and the support of my posse on the SurviveOars dragon boat team. This September, I will travel to Ravenna, Italy with our team of cancer survivors to compete at the International Dragon Boat Federation World Club Crew Championships.
