It reminds us not only of the lives lost but the ones saved, the survivors. Whether in remission or cured, those who have suffered from breast cancer can continue to have a number of physical and emotional/mental tests ahead of them.
Survivors may feel less attractive physically and detached from their bodies after treatment. They realize the fight they’ve been in. They struggle to reacclimate.
There are any number of therapies to treat these conditions, and plenty that can be done individually. Dance has been shown to be an excellent mood elevator and a way to chase the ghosts of this illness. When a person’s spirits are down, dance can become another path toward wellness.
“The chemotherapy by itself is not enough. The surgery is not enough. You have to take care of the whole body. You have to take care of the mind, too,” says oncologist Dr. Kim Kruczek, who takes lessons at the Chicago West Loop Fred Astaire Dance Studio and dances to help bust stress.
A study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, found that patients undergoing cancer treatment, as well as their partners, benefited from ballroom dancing. Ballroom dancing also increases socialization for women who may have felt isolated during the various stages of their treatment and recovery. It helps survivors get back into the swing of an active lifestyle and can even improve their intimacy with their partner.
Nearly 277,000 newly discovered cases of invasive breast cancer will have been found by 2020’s end, and more than 42,000 women in the United States will die of this disease. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers, but there are more than 3.5 million survivors in the U.S.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we welcome breast cancer survivors – and everyone who’s been touched by this disease – friends, family members, co-workers, caregivers, healthcare providers etc. – to discover the healing power of dance.
It’s the perfect time to honor a survivor by scheduling a class, either for her, or with her! Simply visit, call, or check out fredastaire.com.