Fly fishing is the draw. But the oncology nurses who volunteer at every Casting for Recovery retreat are what make the weekend truly transformative — and five of them explain why, in their own words.
When a woman arrives at a CfR retreat, she isn’t just handed waders and a fly rod. She steps into a weekend shaped by an extraordinary team of volunteers including oncology nurses and medical volunteers — professionals who answer the questions she was afraid to ask at her last appointment, who recognize the look on her face when she mentions a side effect, and who know exactly what to say.
What makes a CfR retreat different from anything else in the cancer care landscape isn’t only on the water. It’s what happens when oncology nurses step out of the clinical environment and into something altogether more human. Here is what they bring — and why it matters.
They Give Something the Clinic Never Can: Time
In the clinical setting, a breast cancer appointment runs 30 minutes. Maybe less. Women arrive with a list of questions and leave having asked half of them. There is simply no room.
At a CfR retreat, the clock disappears. Nurses and participants share meals, evenings, and hours on the water. Questions that have sat unanswered for months finally get asked — and answered fully, without hurry.
“On the river there is a different pace. It is slower. It is more intentional. Women at the clinic have about 30 minutes or less to bring up issues. At the retreat, it feels very safe to talk about concerns when they are on their own.”
— Colleen Ellmer, Breast Nurse Navigator · Colorado Front Range
“To be in a more relaxed and peaceful environment may allow some women to feel more at ease to better express themselves. This can lead to opportunities for thoughtful and unhurried discussion.”
— Michelle McGovern, Oncology Nurse · Indiana (IN12)
Continue reading “Why Oncology Nurses Make a CfR Retreat Unlike Anything Else” at the Casting for Recovery website.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
