These incredible women are breast cancer survivors who have experienced the journey of a life-changing diagnosis and who have found joy in dragon boating, with a crew and paddle waiting for them on the other side.
AIA Vitality sat down with Paula, Sarah and Natasha to talk about their journeys and how becoming members of Busting with Life, an Auckland-based dragon boating crew for breast cancer survivors, gave them a new lease on life.
According to Te Aho o Te Kahu Cancer Control Agency, breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in New Zealand1. A diagnosis that reshapes lives and alters the way many experience the world around them.
In this article, Paula, Sarah and Natasha open up about finding courage after their diagnosis, the peace of mind that having insurance cover with AIA brought them, and finding community.
The moment that changes everything
On average, around 10 women in New Zealand are diagnosed with breast cancer each day, contributing to more than 3,700 diagnoses each year2. Behind these numbers are thousands of personal journeys, each marked by the emotional, social and mental load that comes with facing the diagnosis and undergoing treatment.
No one is ever truly prepared to hear the words. For Paula, the diagnosis arrived after she noticed something unexpected.
“I thought I was relatively healthy and fit. And then I found a lump, which was actually in my neck.” Paula shared. “It was a whirlwind from there - and scary.”
According to the Breast Cancer Foundation National Register, early detection is critical, as survival rates are up to 95% when caught early3. Regular self-checks and early GP visits remain one of the simplest, most powerful tools for catching breast cancer early and improving outcomes. The earlier a conversation starts with a doctor, the better.
A community built on the water
More than 36,000 people currently live with or have survived breast cancer in New Zealand4.
For many, the road to recovery isn’t walked alone. It’s shaped by the strength of the people around you, who provide connection and a sense of belonging through the toughest moments.
That’s where Busting with Life came into the picture for Paula, Sarah and Natasha. United by a shared goal to rebuild strength, the dragon boating crew provide support and a sense of purpose beyond treatment. They use the physical and mental challenge of the sport as a way to promote recovery and resilience. And having fun while doing it.
“It’s a place where you can feel strong again,” Sarah says. “But it’s also a place where you can’t really pull the cancer card because everybody’s literally in the same boat!”
More than just a sports team, they are a tight-knit support network. Members, many of whom started as strangers linked only by their diagnosis, become a community that supports each other. Through training and competing, the crew challenges both their physical and mental limits, showing that life after breast cancer can still be strong, social and full of momentum.
The moment that changes everything
More than 36,000 people currently live with or have survived breast cancer in New Zealand4.
For many, the road to recovery isn’t walked alone. It’s shaped by the strength of the people around you, who provide connection and a sense of belonging through the toughest moments.
That’s where Busting with Life came into the picture for Paula, Sarah and Natasha. United by a shared goal to rebuild strength, the dragon boating crew provide support and a sense of purpose beyond treatment. They use the physical and mental challenge of the sport as a way to promote recovery and resilience. And having fun while doing it.
“It’s a place where you can feel strong again,” Sarah says. “But it’s also a place where you can’t really pull the cancer card because everybody’s literally in the same boat!”
More than just a sports team, they are a tight-knit support network. Members, many of whom started as strangers linked only by their diagnosis, become a community that supports each other. Through training and competing, the crew challenges both their physical and mental limits, showing that life after breast cancer can still be strong, social and full of momentum.
Guidance and peace of mind when you need it
A cancer diagnosis carries costs that extend well beyond hospital visits. For many New Zealanders, having some form of insurance can help ease their treatment journey by creating space for people to focus on recovery.
For Paula, Sarah and Natasha, having insurance cover through AIA meant that when the diagnosis came, finances were one less thing to worry about.
Trauma cover, for example, provided Paula and Sarah with the flexibility to manage costs, whether that was to cover treatment or take time off work. Income protection also provided a level of financial security for Paula while she was unable to work, helping cover everyday expenses and supporting her family.
For Sarah, having the right cover in place, guided by her insurance advisor, made a real and tangible difference during what was an overwhelming and uncertain time.
“My wonderful insurance advisor, Nicky Wadey, just hopped to it and was incredibly supportive,” she says.
Natasha too, reflected on when she opened up to her insurance advisor, who helped her identify that she could claim financial support through Trauma cover. “I just couldn’t believe it,” she commented.
Breast cancer changes lives, but as Paula, Sarah and Natasha show, it doesn't have to define them. Sometimes, the hardest chapters lead to new friendships, renewed strength, and a discovery that there is still so much life left to live.
Check out Paula, Sarah and Natasha’s stories in the video below:
