A group of breast cancer survivors are healing through the power of the dragon, writes Ben Sin

This fortnight, out in the waters of Victoria Harbour, 191 dragon boats from 12 countries are battling it out in a race to the finish at the 35th annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival. One team, though, has already won a huge battle – they’ve beaten breast cancer.

Made up of breast cancer survivors and their friends and families, Dragons Abreast is a four-year-old self-funded organisation that aims to promote exercise for women recovering from breast cancer procedures. The two founders of the group, Professor Katherine Lynch and Dr Polly Cheung, believe the act of paddling is the ideal exercise for improving and preventing lymphedema (when skin swells due to fluid retention), a common side effect for post-operative breast cancer patients.

“It does help,” says May Kwong, a 50-year-old who has successfully recovered from breast cancer after a year of treatments. She says the rowing is just the right level of workout and gives the muscles in her chest, arms and back the proper range of movements. Fellow member Gloria Hung, who’s worked as a nurse dealing with breast cancer patients for nearly a decade, agrees with the sentiment, adding that many recovering women do not get enough exercise. “I think many patients avoid exercise after treatment because they think it may be harmful,” she says.

Breast cancer is the world’s more prevalent form of cancer affecting women. Statistics show one in every 23 Hong Kong women will encounter breast cancer in their lifetime, and the figures of diagnosed women in the city have gone up steadily over the past decade. (1,152 women diagnosed in 1993; 2,701 diagnosed in 2007 – the last year the Hong Kong Cancer Registry released public results.) Groups such as Dragons Abreast help not just with physical rehabilitation but also mental recovery. “Getting better isn’t just healing physically. It’s a state of mind,” explains Hung.

May Li, who joined five years ago, says the activity bonds the group spiritually. “Knowing each other has gone through the same experience and has the same health history is motivating,” she says.

As the birthplace of the modern dragon boat races, Hong Kong prides itself in being a crucial part of developing and sustaining this Chinese ritual, which celebrates the Tuen Ng Festival. This year, the Hong Kong Tourism Board are looking to make the dragon boat races an all-out party on land and sea, with a carnival in East Tsim Sha Tsui harbour featuring beer gardens, live bands and a Miss Dragon Boat contest. “The carnival is going to be a new addition to our city’s events calendar,” says James Tien, chairman of the HKTB.

The timing of the HKTB’s promotion couldn’t be more perfect, as the Dragons Abreast team, in addition to competing in the main race, are also participating in a charity exhibition race with a Singaporean team, with proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Foundation. “It’s great to be able to raise awareness for breast cancer on a platform as big and grand as this carnival,” explains Kwong.

The 30 or so members of Dragons Abreast are a tight-knit group, and they participate in up to five races a year including the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival. (“The big one,” according to Hung.) With former Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association team member Frank Chu coaching them, this group means business, placing first in Macau and Singapore last year and third earlier this year at a race in Stanley. “Yes, it’s a good bonding activity,” says Hung. “But we also win.”

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival is on Fri July 23 to Sun July 25 at Victoria Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui East. For the story of May Kwong and her battle with breast cancer, check out her interview in Big Smog.