The men in Bernadette Bradley's life know all about about the joys of fishing.
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But it's taken a battle with breast cancer for the 53-year-old Canberra teacher to embrace a spot at the lake with a rod in her hand.
With her husband and father both avid fishermen, next April Mrs Bradley will take part in an innovative new program for breast cancer survivors – Casting for Recovery – which improves both the physical recovery and quality of life for women after treatment through the gentle act of fly fishing.
Founded by a breast cancer reconstructive surgeon, Dr Benita Walton, in the United States, Casting for Recovery has been rolled out across Canada, New Zealand, Britain, and now, Canberra.
Women of all ages and in all stages of recovery are being encouraged to apply for a place in the Canberra program, with two 12-women weekend retreats planned for next year.
Canberra Fly Fisher and Casting for Recovery Co-ordinator Nick van Weelden said the evidence from overseas suggested fly fishing was an excellent activity for women who had endured the physical and psychological scars of breast cancer.
"The actual act of fly fishing is a very gentle exercise which uses the arms and upper body and can help break down scar tissue and improve movement," he said.
Post-surgery, a mastectomy scar has a tendency to adhere to the nearest tissue possible, thereby limiting movement. Casting a rod can open up the chest area with both arms in use in differing directions – leading to a range of shoulder, back and hip movement.
"But it is also about doing something new with a group of women who have shared the experience of breast cancer," Mr van Weelden said.
Mrs Bradley said she was keen to take part and had already familiarised herself with the basics of "stripping" (handling the length of fishing line as you cast out), noting it would help her left arm following a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery of her left breast after her 2011 diagnosis.
"For me, the appeal is in being outdoors and doing some gentle exercise in the fresh air. I am not one for gyms, so this really appeals. Plus it is a bit different."
Her husband Michael was all for it, having enjoyed fishing throughout his life.
"I hope it is something we can do together."
Mr van Weelden said the ACT Fly Fishers Club had enthusiastically taken up the program and had received enormous support from sponsors in order to help cover the costs of running the retreats.
He said that Loop had supplied rods, reels and lines to the program, worth $16,000 and that club member Peter Walsh had donated his Rainbow Springs Fly Fishing School in Wamboin for the retreat, where ponds stocked with trout made it highly likely the women would catch a fish or two over the weekend.
Ultimately the club hoped to win some community grants to keep running the retreats.
Meanwhile, evidence is mounting that fly fishing can boost physical and mental health outcomes for breast cancer survivors.
The US program had been the subject of a National Comprehensive Cancer Network study which found Casting for Recovery participants had experienced a statistically significant reduction in anxiety and other distress symptoms associated with breast cancer. Post-retreat evaluations show that after attending a retreat 97 per cent of women would recommend the program to others, 95 per cent felt connected with other participants, 89 per cent felt more aware and accepting of themselves and 88 per cent felt better able to cope with their situation.
ACT Health Minister Simon Corbell will launch the program on October 19 with women encouraged to register at
