BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//CalDiscovery//caldiscovery//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH DESCRIPTION:Cedar Rapids: wellness\, today (Thu Sep 17\, America/Chicago). Rolling: the window moves forward every day\, so subscribe rather than do wnload. Discovered and maintained by CalDiscovery (https://caldiscovery.co m). Event details belong to their publishers. Contains information from Ca lDiscovery\, which is made available under the ODbL 1.0. SOURCE:https://caldiscovery.com/cedar-rapids-ia/today-wellness.ics X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT12H REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT12H X-WR-CALDESC:Cedar Rapids: wellness\, today (Thu Sep 17\, America/Chicago) . Rolling: the window moves forward every day\, so subscribe rather than d ownload. Discovered and maintained by CalDiscovery (https://caldiscovery.c om). Event details belong to their publishers. Contains information from C alDiscovery\, which is made available under the ODbL 1.0. X-WR-CALNAME:Cedar Rapids · wellness · today · CalDiscovery BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Tai Chi DTSTART:20260917T150000Z DTEND:20260917T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260915T001156Z UID:10002433-1789639200-1789642800@www.communitycancercenter.org CATEGORIES:wellness DESCRIPTION:After facing breast cancer\, a Cedar Rapids woman and her moth er traveled to France to race alongside thousands of survivors from around the world \nFor years\, Abbey Lange of Cedar Rapids watched from the shor eline as her mother\, Michelle Lange of East Dubuque\, Illinois\, raced dr agon boats with fellow breast cancer survivors on the Mississippi River. \ nMichelle\, a two-time breast cancer survivor\, had spent more than two de cades paddling with Team “Hope for the Breast\,” a dragon boat team wh ere the only requirement to join is a breast cancer diagnosis. She always loved having Abbey there to cheer her on—but hoped her daughter would ne ver have a reason to join her in the boat. \nUnfortunately\, that wish did n’t last. \nIn late 2022\, Abbey was just 32-years-old when she felt a l ump in her breast. She thought she might be feeling a muscle because she w as active and worked out regularly. But knowing her mother’s history of breast cancer\, Abbey trusted her instincts and had it checked. \nThat dec ision changed her life. \nTrusting Her Instincts\nFollowing a biopsy\, Abb ey was diagnosed with breast cancer and referred to the Nassif Community C ancer Center\, where she met with care coordinator Mona Cook\, BSN\, RN\, CBCN\, to begin developing a personalized care plan. \nAbbey underwent 20 rounds of chemotherapy before deciding\, in consultation with her physicia ns\, to have a double mastectomy to minimize her risk of recurrence. She a lso underwent immediate breast reconstruction. \nThroughout treatment\, Ab bey formed close relationships with her care team and took advantage of su pportive services at the Community Cancer Center\, including genetic testi ng\, which gave her more insight into her personal cancer risk. \nDuring c hemotherapy\, Abbey also received support through the Community Cancer Cen ter’s partnership with Strands of Strength\, which helped her obtain a w ig after she lost her hair. \n“Until you go through it\, you don’t kno w what it’s like to not feel like yourself\,” Abbey said. “Getting t hat wig really made me feel like me.” \nAfter completing treatment\, Abb ey worked with cancer exercise specialist Matt Schmitz\, CSCS\, CES\, AFT\ , to rebuild her strength and prepare to join her mother in the dragon boa t. \nFrom the Shoreline to the Boat\nAbbey eventually joined her mother on Team “Hope for the Breast\,” turning years of cheering from the shore into a shared experience on the water. \nThat experience reached a milest one this summer when Michelle and Abbey traveled to Aix-les-Bains\, France \, for the 2026 International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission Dragon Boat Festival. \nMore than 4\,500 breast cancer survivors from around the world gathered for the event\, creating what Michelle described as “a se a of pink.” \nFor Abbey\, the trip was her first time traveling outside the country—and a chance to experience something she never could have im agined when she was diagnosed at 32. \n“Being surrounded by 4\,500 breas t cancer survivors felt so empowering\, knowing that all of our journeys h ave led us together\, to race on beautiful blue waters and mountains surro unding us\,” Abbey said. \nShe especially enjoyed meeting women from dif ferent countries and exchanging pins representing where they came from. \n But the most memorable moment came on the boat. \n“For so many years\, I was the daughter standing on the shore watching and cheering my mom on\, but sitting just four rows behind her on the boat in France was a moment I ’ll never forget\,” Abbey said. \nWhen the race ended\, the mother and daughter learned their team had finished first in their division. \n“My mom and I locked eyes\, we hugged each other and cheered\, crying tears o f joy\,” Abbey said. “It was truly a magical moment.” \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \ n \n \n \n \n \n \n Michelle and Abbey in Fra nce.A flower ceremony that took place at the event.Team Hope for the Breas t on the water.Abbey Michelle and Abbey's friend Kaitlin.Team Hope for the Breast with their medals after winning their division.Team Hope for the B reast in the dragon boat.Abbe and Michelle with the water and mountains in the background.The head of the dragon boat Abbey and Michelle raced in. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Three Y ears Cancer-Free\nAbbey celebrated three years cancer-free in May. While s he continues to experience some long-term effects of treatment\, she says she feels good and plans to keep dragon boating\, staying active and enjoy ing life. \n“More than anything\, I’m just trying to enjoy life and ta ke care of myself\, and also appreciate how far I have come\,” she said. \nA Mother’s Perspective\nFor Michelle\, seeing her daughter become a b reast cancer survivor has been both difficult and deeply meaningful. \n“ It is a bittersweet experience having Abbey in the boat with me\,” Miche lle said. “Knowing your daughter had cancer\, but also knowing that she made it through this terrible disease and we are both survivors.” \nAfte r more than 20 years of dragon boating\, Michelle knows firsthand that a b reast cancer diagnosis does not define the rest of a person’s life. \n “There is so much life after breast cancer\,” she said. “In the mome nt\, that’s all you think\, live and breathe—cancer. But you get to mo ve on and live your life to the fullest.” \nToday\, Michelle and Abbey a re no longer mother and daughter separated by the shoreline. They are team mates\, survivors and friends who share memories that began with a cancer diagnosis and carried them all the way to France. \nAnd their journey cont inues. \nA Message to Women During Breast Cancer Awareness Month\nBoth Mic helle and Abbey hope their story encourages women to pay attention to thei r health and advocate for themselves. Their message is simple: Listen to y our body\, ask questions and never be afraid to speak up when something do esn’t feel right. \n“Know your body. Know your family history\, and ad vocate for yourself\,” Abbey said. “If something doesn’t feel right\ , don’t ignore it. Early detection can make such a huge difference. I wa s diagnosed young at age 32 and I never thought I would be facing breast c ancer at that age. Cancer doesn’t care how old you are.” \nExperienced Breast Cancer Care in Cedar Rapids\nThe Nassif Community Cancer Center pr ovides comprehensive cancer care and support services for patients and fam ilies throughout the cancer journey. \nTo learn more about breast cancer c are and support services\, call (319) 558-4876 or visit communitycancercen ter.org. \nGet Your Annual Screening Mammogram\nIt’s recommended women s tart with a baseline mammogram between the ages of 35-40\, then begin annu al screening mammograms at age 40\, or sooner if there’s a family histor y of breast cancer. To schedule your mammogram\, talk to your healthcare provider or call (319) 369-7216 to schedule your mammogram at one of St. Luke’s Breast and Bone Health’s three convenient locations. You can a lso request a mammogram appointment online at uph.link/CR-RequestAMammogra m. St. Luke’s Breast and Bone Health also offers walk-in mammograms Mon day through Friday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.\, with a doctor’s order. LAST-MODIFIED:20260915T001156Z LOCATION:Helen G. Nassif Community Cancer Center URL:https://www.communitycancercenter.org/event/tai-chi-2/2026-09-17/?utm_ source=caldiscovery&utm_medium=ics&utm_campaign=cedar-rapids-ia X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Cancer Center X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.communitycancercenter.org/support-services/suppor t-groups END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR