Belly Dancer Breast Cancer Survey Results

Following the Survey Data Results are personal observations of those taking this survey. The survey results may surprise you. You are amazing women! Some of you asked what I was going to
do with the survey results. The answer - nothing. Except to share with you what other ME/belly dancers with breast cancer have discovered about themselves. I would appreciate your reactions to this survey. You may email me and/or join our "DancerCancer" Group.

	Yes	No
Are you a belly dancer?	100%
Have you had breast cancer?	100%
Did you belly dance before cancer?	60%	40%
Did you belly dance after cancer?	100%
Do you feel belly dancing restored your femininity after breast cancer?	100%

	Yes	No
Do you wear a prosthesis?	20%	80%
Do you feel asexual?	40%	60%
Do you feel sensual?	60%	40%

	Yes	No
Did you have a mastectomy?	46%	53%
Do people react to you differently now?	60%	40%
Do you feel like a different person after having breast cancer?	6%	93%
Do you wear a prosthesis while belly dancing?	13%	86%
Do you feel belly dancing mimics nature?	60%	40%
Does belly dancing tell a story?	80%	20%
Can belly dancing tell a new story?	73%	26%
Do you have a dance to tell a story of your cancer/surgery?	26%	73%
Do you have a dance to express your feelings about your surgery?	20%	80%
What are people's reactions to you now? . . . surprise, respect, they don't know how to react

After reading the above, I'm interested in how many of you now have a dance that tells a story of your cancer/surgery/emotions. -Diana/Artemis

Do you perform in public?	33%	66%
Do you belly dance just for yourself in private?	53%	46
Are you an ethnic belly dancer?	53%	46%
Are you a cabaret belly dancer?	26%	73%
Is belly dancing your livelihood?	80%	20%
Is belly dancing for your personal satisfaction?	86%	13%
Are breasts important in belly dancing?	33%	66%

Do you believe that everyone has cancer cells within?	66%	33%
Do you believe that stress causes cancer?	73%	26%
Has your life changed since having cancer?	80%	20%

How has your life changed?	Improved	Worsened	No Change
Career	33%	13%	53%
Self-image	40%	33%	26%
Your spiritual conceptions	80%	0%	20%
Your reactions to life	80%	0%	20%
Relationships:
with Spouse/Significant Other	53%	26%	20%
with Parent	46%	13%	33%
with Children	13%	13%	73%
with Siblings	46%	6%	46%

	Yes	No
Do you discuss your cancer with anyone?	80%	20%
Do you express your feelings about cancer through your dancing?	33%	66%
Is your belly dancing therapeutic?	80%	20%
Is your belly dancing a religious experience?	33%	66%

I was diagnosed at age 30. I have not heard of other breast cancer survivors doing belly dancing. I wanted to try something different to exercise. As part of my reconstruction, I had a tram flap and wanted to make sure to keep limber after the surgery. The dancing has strengthened my stomach muscles and back. I feel more in control with my health and my body, as well as feeling pretty again. I believe everyone has cancer cells but the body can usually fight them off.

My feminine self-image did not suffer after my first mastectomy when I was 50, but 6 years later when I had the second breast removed and gained over 20 pounds from chemo, my femaleness was shattered. Just this year I decided to try belly dancing for the exercise (I hate running). I'm still self-conscious about my pear shape, but the hip movements, the flowing of my arms and hands instill an Earth Mother womanly feeling in me. For a month I refused to look at myself in that mirror, but now I see a woman who sways with the music. And those young lithe dancers sweat from exertion after an hour . . . just like this 57 year old woman.

My sense of femininity had a double blow 10 years ago. First I had a hysterectomy and a mammogram. 6 months later I was told I needed another mammogram. 6 weeks later I had a total mastectomy of my left breast. During early treatment I felt like a zombie. Just getting through chemo was my goal. I tried to dance, but felt like a fraud. I kind of kept with it, but not with the same zest as BC (before cancer), and when I danced I no longer tried to be or feel sensual. Maybe this is where my interest in ethnic/folk style dancing and costuming really took hold.

Things greatly improved when I had my reconstructive surgery 2 years later and the artistic/ magical talents of my plastic surgeon gave me a breast that matched the real me - 42 DDD. In addition, I got a tummy tuck. I got back into dancing full force for several years after that. Because of my age (53) and my weight, I still prefer the ethnic style of costuming and dance.

I really missed the magic of the dance - how it makes me feel creative, beautiful, sensual, alive . . and its exercise value. I lost 0% range of motion after my surgery.

I also missed the comradity of other dancers. In most cases dancing brings you a special bond with other dancers whether or not they've had cancer. It expresses your joy, gratefulness, and celebration that you are alive! I am a different person now - hopefully a better person.

I was diagnosed at age 30. I just have to say (and I have told my oncologist as well as my support group) that belly dancing has really helped me to improve my body image, especially after going through a mastectomy and reconstruction. I just had a beautiful flowering vine with lotus flowers tattooed over my tram flap scar on my stomach - something that I wouldn't have done before. Belly dancing makes me feel very feminine and beautiful and it's a perfect way to exercise. The women in my class are all different sizes and I don't feel intimidated as I do
working out at a health club with really skinny, muscular women. The dancing helps me feel like I am in control of my body once again after the cancer and as I trust myself more, the more I accept my changed body, and spirit. I don't think I would have even thought about doing belly dancing before. Thank you for having a forum for people who have gone through all of this! I don't know
if you have had breast cancer, but I felt less alone when I saw that this website exists.

I have not heard of other breast cancer survivors doing belly dancing. I wanted to try something different for exercise. As part of my reconstruction, I had a tram flap and wanted to make sure to
keep limber after the surgery. The dancing has strengthened my stomach muscles and back. I feel more in control with my health and my body, as well as feeling pretty again.

I do believe that everyone has cancer cells but the body can usually fight them off.

I'd be interested in talking on line to other people in a similar situation. [Do you think belly dancers with breast cancer can start their own list group?]
Thanks again!
-Lisa

I feel very feminine. I studied belly dancing before and after the cancer. The music is spiritual and so are the movements. Most things spiritual are healing and I believe this art/dance
is very connected to women and the celebration of women. It definitely gives a woman confidence and helps one get in touch with one's own sensuality.

Stress releases many negative energies within and out of the body.

I stumbled on this survey while looking for information for someone who has breast cancer that has completely metastasized. I am trying to find something that will help one feel more comfortable. I recently hit my five year remission :)
-G

Femininity is internal. For me...losing my hair, my breasts and my husband struck hard at my sense of femininity. So I worked at becoming a sensuous woman... I belly dance, I make love, and I love deeply now. Belly dancing provides the restoration of femininity, is great exercise, gives a feeling of accomplishment, and a feeling of beauty and strength.

I certainly think stress weakens the immune system which in turn becomes unable to fight off the effects of the cancerous cells. As far as releasing them, I don't know.

Thank you for the wonderful idea of expressing my experience with cancer in my dance!
-R

Just had surgery - am looking forward to doing things that will make me feel better about myself. I think that dancing and activity will be a major part of my physical and emotional healing. Right now I feel less of a woman - like I have failed by 'getting' cancer. I feel that my husband is not attracted to me (although he reassures me that he is). I am curious about the physical changes and know that I need to make some major life-style changes to stay cancer-free.
I think that belly dancing is a wonderful idea and thank you for reminding me of it. I am a large-sized woman and found that belly dancing helped me feel good about my body at the time I started dancing. Haven't danced in awhile, but think that this has good potential. Thank you for reminding me of it.

It helps you get back inside your body. It allows you to express yourself as a woman - it uses the whole body to move. Music itself is healing and there are so many varieties of music that there is bound to be one that matches the mood and feelings of the day.

I believe that cancer cells are normal cells that have become confused by emotions, physical stress, environmental effects, chemical abuse, etc. etc. The body generally deals with them through the immune system. Stress reduces the ability of the immune system to function - cancer grows stronger and over-comes the 'cleansing' abilities of the immune system. The immune system needs
to be put back into balance by changing the equation - decreasing stress, decreasing environmental impacts, increasing healthy dietary, spiritual and emotional components.
-Janice

Thank you for your E-Mail - I read through the results - it is as I have told others - this is a sorority which I never would have voluntarily joined, but once inducted with the diagnosis of "Breast Cancer" I can not think of a stronger, more wise, kind, caring, independent , beautiful, wonderful group of women of whom I am honored to be a part. Of course you may use my name on the survey. I hope your daughter does well with her research.

Had the second dose of chemo last week and did well. Your survey has inspired me to get out my 'practice' tapes again for movement and flexibility. I walk - but dance has always put me so solidly in this body of mine - and that is where I need to be as I heal. I had a grade 1 cancer, neg nodes - lumpectomy to be followed by chemo (in progress) and radiation. My hair is gone, my breast is misshapen, and the infected incision is healing - but still open - but when I look in the mirror I see a woman who is strong, brave, healthy, growing wiser, a sister to many who have gone before and many who will follow and know that I am not a breast, I am not hair, I am not a scar - I am ME. God Bless you for your work - Jan

Belly dancing means more to me now then it ever did before. I have a new husband of two months who was at my side through all of this. He even encouraged me to continue dancing. When
I get upset I dance and tune everyone and everything out. Some times I get real sick and/or tired
so it helps me to recover myself without anyone's help or drugs.

I think sometimes doctors don't know for sure. All I know is I have become a student of Tibetan mysteries and I'm enjoying each day to its fullest.

I think it is a wonderful thing you are doing for women who enjoy our particular form of art. If there is anyway I can be of service to help, don't hesitate to let me know. You may go ahead and use my name. I think it would be helpful to some if people are out in the open about this sort of thing.

I recently found out that my best friend also has Breast Cancer. She goes in on Tuesday of this next week for a radical mastectomy. I have been her rock as she was one of mine. It's funny how this thing touches so many lives.
-Amethyst

I was thrilled to find your belly dancing-breast cancer website. I am awaiting diagnosis of bilateral lumps found by my doctor during an annual examination. The ultrasound showed that they are not cysts. It is scary.

I have never had breast cancer and I pray to God I never will. But I have belly danced since I was two years old. I had to - I am Greek. Dance, any dance that is connected to you and to your community, is healing. When you belly dance, you dance for others while expressing a very personal part of yourself. Not to say that you can't dance just for yourself, but I feel that dance is to be shared. One needs musicians and an audience. I can see where belly dancing after the trauma of surgery and therapy can be very restoring. The movements are so fluid, so wonderful to watch and do that it is hypnotic at times. You get in contact with your womanhood, your sexuality, your adult playfulness. What better way to connect with your body than to play with it. Tongue in cheek. With bells on, playing dress-up in scarves and moving to a soul stirring ancient music. Yes, belly dance! Teach it! Use it as a therapeutic "Re-learning body image" tool! God bless. Yes, I do believe it.

We need to take care of ourselves and each other. This mentality (Western) of being an island is very toxic to us. It hurts relationships. It hurts the earth. It hurts us. Hurt spirits will hurt spirits. We are all in this together and we need to relearn trust and acceptance so we can heal. It makes so much sense that women suffer from breast cancer. We are the nurturers of this world and the gift that allows us to sustain life is broken and violated. We are a direct mirror image of this world, this earth, this environment that is suffering with us.
-Christina