Staying Connected

Szu Yu “Switchblade” Huang knows firsthand what it’s like to face cancer, both as a patient and a caregiver. She spent six months caring for her mother during her cancer treatment, and after undergoing precautionary early screening, she herself was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 43. At the right time in her treatment journey, Switchblade joined our Oncology Caregiver Core Program for a whitewater kayaking adventure in Oregon in July 2023, accompanied by her wife, who served as her caregiver. 

“Going to the caregiver program was a very eye-opening experience that helped me understand the perspective of the people who have taken care of me,” Switchblade shares. “I didn’t know how being a caregiver could be such a burden. After the program, I kept asking my wife ‘Is that how you feel as well? Why didn’t you tell me!’” 

Switchblade valued the support she felt on her program and knew she wanted to stay connected with the FD community after it ended. On the final day of her program, she expressed her intention to stay involved with FD and filled out a form to join a Community Adventure back home in the San Francisco Bay Area. Today, she is a passionate leader in her community, having hosted four Community Adventures in her area. 

We asked Switchblade about her experience hosting Community Adventures:

How did you find out about First Descents and Community Adventures? 

I found out about First Descents at an event I attended through Bay Area Young Survivors. Not just one person, but many people spoke highly about First Descents during the event. I was curious about the organization, so I started researching. One person after another kept saying nice things about FD, so I decided I’d just try to apply. I was actually in between treatments, so I applied for the caregiver program so that my wife could accompany me as my caregiver. 

Initially, we didn’t know what we were getting into. I was in a lot of treatment fatigue, and I was three weeks away from my next surgery, so I was hesitant to go at first. My wife is an introvert and doesn’t love social stuff, so she was really only going because I wanted to go. It turned out that everyone was super welcoming, and the program was very well designed. My wife ended up loving the program so much that every year she kept talking about how she wished there was another program to go on, and that’s how we got involved with Community Adventures! Witnessing the impact and healing power of these trips firsthand was truly inspiring, so after our program my wife and I began making monthly donations to First Descents with the hope that more people can benefit from the life-changing week-long programs.

The month after my weeklong program, I signed up for a Community Adventure near me.  I was looking for ways to give back to the First Descents community and connect with other people who could relate to my cancer journey. At the first one I attended, the organizer informed me that anyone could sign up to host their own Community Adventure. So, I contacted the FD team and mentioned I was interested in being a leader. Since October 2023, I have organized Community Adventures every two to three months. 

How did you get your nickname?

It was actually a brand on my t-shirt. On the first day of my program, we couldn’t come up with a name, so everyone just looked at my shirt and decided on the name “Switchblade.”

What in particular do you like about Community Adventures?

I know a lot of people miss the connections they make on their programs, and I like that Community Adventures give people the opportunity to find support within their community. In the San Francisco Bay Area, there are a lot of oncology patients, but besides meeting at weekly support groups, there aren’t many opportunities to connect. At the same time, there are so many hiking and outdoor adventures in the area. Even when the hiking trail is right next to you, without having someone to motivate you, you might not want to hike a trail alone. I like that Community Adventures fill this need, and I can contribute to making them happen. Every time I host people, everyone expresses how much they appreciate just being together. We don’t even have to talk about anything relating to cancer—when you get together, you feel a sense of comfort immediately just by spending time outside together. 

How many Community Adventures have you led?

I have led four Community Adventures. I usually try to host hiking events, because there are all kinds of trails in the San Francisco Bay Area. Because the Bay Area is so large, it can be hard to pick a location accessible to everyone, and I don’t want to leave anyone out. A lot of times, I get recommendations from other participants about their favorite trails in the region. That way, I can host adventures dispersed all over the Bay Area, so everyone has the opportunity to join at some point.

What has been your favorite Community Adventure so far?

It’s incredibly difficult to choose a single favorite Community Adventure! Each hike has been a unique and rewarding experience. I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many inspiring individuals on their recovery journeys. The diversity of our participants is a constant reminder that health challenges can affect anyone. These experiences reinforce the importance of living fully in the present moment and cherishing every opportunity.

Stay tuned for an exciting announcement in the new year about how YOU can spread the healing power of adventure and connect the community in your area!