Breast Cancer
Proton Alumni Spotlight: Pam Reckner
Pam Reckner recently returned from Germany where she was a member of the first Breast Cancer Paddlers (BCP) division racing at the IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships. This is the first year the world-renowned competition included breast cancer survivors’ teams. Pam says being a part of that historic team and securing a spot on Team USA was the “Greatest of honor of mine.”
Pam reflects on racing the toughest in the world
When Pam speaks about her time in Germany and the training and selection process leading up to it, she doesn’t sugarcoat how hard of an athletic pursuit making a world team is. “You are racing against the best in the world and racing at the highest levels. You have to push through the pain and keep fighting,” she said. Canada and New Zealand were the most competitive rivals to the USA BCP division racers. “We left nothing out there,” Pam continued.
Some special moments from the competition for Pam included the grandeur of competing in a world championship event for the United States. She says the opening ceremony and marching with her country in the opening ceremony was especially memorable. The medal ceremony and seeing the flags raised was another incredible moment for Pam.
For their hard work Team USA BCP racers, which included Pam and two other women from Jacksonville, came home with two silvers and three bronze medals.
Competitors and survivors
While the competition was heated and victories were hard fought, Pam says the breast cancer survivors racing from all over the world also came together to honor each other and celebrate their shared victory of defeating breast cancer. Pam teared up when she recalled how they came together and chanted in celebration of being healthy and able to compete in a historic athletic pursuit.
Pam said of being on a team in the first BCP world competition, “It makes me feel like I will go down in history.”
The BCP USA team formed a special bond and plan to compete at least once a year together. They’ve formed their own team, Victory United, for future events.
Pam shares her story and gratitude for proton therapy
In August, Pam attended a monthly luncheon at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute to talk about the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships and share her gratitude for the team at the Institute who treated her breast cancer with proton therapy.
Pam said, “I am grateful and thankful for their expertise. I am not just surviving, I’m thriving and it’s because of the people (at the Institute) that saved me,” she continued.
She is proud of what she’s accomplished post-breast cancer treatment and hopes the team at the Institute is also proud of the work they do that transforms lives like Pam’s. Pam was treated by Julie A. Bradley, MD, MHCDS and continues to see Teena Burchianti, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, OCN® for follow-up care.