Greet: Newcastle and Newport Hills Magazine featured Team Survivor Northwest on its October 2023 cover! A special thanks to members Amy Robertson and Jo Gartenberg for sharing their inspiring stories.

When you hear the word cancer, you may think of chemo, radiation, surgery, and hardship. But at Team Survivor Northwest, cancer means climbing mountains, weekly hiking and walking groups, sweating it out in fitness classes, paddling in Dragon Boat races, and training for triathlons…

“The comment that I hear the most from our members is how they never realized a cancer group could be such a positive place. They love being around others who get what they are going through without having to explain anything, without others feeling pity toward them, and often without even having to talk about cancer unless it comes up naturally in conversation,” says Executive Director Jennefer Boyer. “They can be themselves.”

These words ring true for member and Newcastle resident Amy Robertson, who was diagnosed with stage-3 breast cancer in April 2020 – two weeks into the COVID-19 lockdown.

“I felt like I had cancer behind closed doors because of COVID,” Robertson says.

In addition to chemo, radiation, and a mastectomy, Robertson also developed heart failure. A former collegiate athlete, she felt beaten down by her inability to walk without fatigue. That’s when her oncologist encouraged her to join Team Survivor, which was hosting online fitness classes in the wake of the pandemic.

“The first class I took was so hard, but Toshiko (the instructor) was so supportive and kind. Heart failure made it difficult to do anything, but I kept going and continued to get stronger,” Robertson says. “I thought it would be sign on, exercise, and leave, but it’s so much more than that. As I got more involved in more exercise classes I felt better. I realized I wasn’t alone.”

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