When Life throws you a Curveball

When life throws you a curveball like a breast cancer diagnosis, the journey toward healing involves more than just medical treatments, it requires emotional resilience and finding new purpose. In this powerful episode of Off -Balance, Dr. Brooks welcomes Laura Reuter, a breast cancer survivor who transformed her experience into a mission to help others navigate their own cancer journeys.

Laura's story begins in 2016 when she received a diagnosis that would completely upend her life. As she describes it, "Everything that you have known gets flipped upside down." This profound statement encapsulates the disorienting nature of a cancer diagnosis. Laura found herself with a different house, a different motorcycle, and facing the phenomenon of "ghosting" where friends and family gradually stop inviting you to events as your 14-month treatment plan made social engagements difficult to maintain. This isolation is common among cancer patients, whose lives become dominated by medical appointments and recovery periods.

What makes Laura's story particularly illuminating is her candid discussion about identity after cancer. After having both breasts removed and having previously undergone a hysterectomy, she questioned what made her a woman. "Now I've already had my uterus removed, now I've got both my breasts gone, am I even a woman then?" This profound question reflects the identity crisis many cancer survivors face. Society often defines femininity through physical attributes, leaving those who lose these parts through medical necessity to reconstruct their sense of self. Laura emphasizes that this process of redefinition takes time and should not be rushed: "It's not a destination...it's just that slow process of accepting all those little wins and all those lessons and those failures."

As a certified senior patient navigator who has walked alongside nearly 700 individuals through their breast cancer journeys, Laura provides both practical and emotional support. Her role includes helping patients understand what to expect physically, assisting with insurance and financial matters, connecting them with resources, and sometimes just being a listening ear. This profession emerged from her own experience, highlighting how personal trauma can transform into purpose and service to others.

One of the most inspiring aspects of Laura's journey is her discovery of dragon boating, an ancient Chinese sport that has become popular among breast cancer survivors. The paddling motion acts as a therapeutic exercise for women who have had lymph nodes removed, contrary to previous medical advice that discouraged arm movement after such procedures. Through this activity, Laura found community, physical healing, and a renewed sense of competition. "I might be broken, my lymphatic system might be a mess, I may have breast or not...but I'm still here, and I'm getting this," she declares with determination.

Laura's advice for those navigating cancer or any life trauma centers on flexibility and self-compassion. "Try not to get brain locked in of tunnel vision of this is how it's going to be," she cautions, noting that treatment plans and circumstances often change. She also emphasizes the importance of not comparing your journey to others', as even identical diagnoses can result in different treatment protocols based on individual factors including insurance coverage and overall health.

Perhaps most powerfully, Laura advocates for intentionally making time for joy and gratitude. After surviving cancer, she prioritizes fun and volunteering, giving herself permission to embrace life despite being "missing a few parts." Her journey from diagnosis to becoming a champion dragon boat racer and patient advocate demonstrates that while cancer changes everything, it doesn't have to diminish one's capacity for purpose, community, and joy. Different, as she wisely notes, doesn't mean bad—it just means different.