Casting for Recovery
About Casting for Recovery (CFR)
Casting for Recovery (CFR) is a national support and educational program, providing weekend retreats at no cost to women who have or have had breast cancer. To date over 3,000 breast cancer survivors have attended a retreat. In 2007, 36 retreats were held in 25 states. The retreats are community based and appropriate for breast cancer survivors of any age or stage of their cancer. Each retreat provides education and support by a medical professional (e.g. Oncologist, Physical Therapist), a psychosocial counselor (e.g. Psychologist, Social Worker), and fly fishing instructors. Fly fishing promotes physical and mental healing and takes ones mind off of everyday stressors. Each weekend retreat supports 14 breast cancer survivors who are selected at random from applications accepted statewide. All meals, lodging, counseling, instruction and supplies are included at no charge to the participants. The medical community strongly supports CFR as a key resource for patients.
Actual number of people served in the last year, through your programs: Casting for Recovery is new to Texas in 2005. Nationally, CFR has served 3,000 women since its founding in 1996. In 2007, CFR served 500 women.
Goals of project/program:
Participants will experience benefits from being in a group with others, which accomplishes a number of positive gains, including lessening isolation, mutual problem solving, and promotion of coping skills. Post-retreat support continues though volunteer/alumni participation.
On a psychosocial level, participants will benefit from social support, which may favorably influence the course of breast cancer, and is associated with longer survival.
Participants will benefit from the support of professionally trained medical and psychosocial staff.
Participants will have the valuable experience of spending a weekend with other women that live in their own state, that have been through a similar medical experience.
Participants will master the technique of fly-casting, a gentle motion, which can help increase mobility in the affected arm and shoulder by reducing stiffness and swelling (surgeons prescribe exercises similar to fly-casting after a woman has had surgery or radiation).
