Laura Geatches wins her battle with cancer with help from Northern Arizona’s Breast Health Program

When Laura Geatches received a diagnosis of breast cancer from Dr. Beth DuPree of Northern Arizona Healthcare’s Breast Health Program in Sedona, her mind went straight to the worst possible outcome.  

“Obviously, I was pretty upset,” she said. “And at that point, I can honestly say that I was not in a good place in my life.”  

So Laura sat down and asked herself some questions: Where was her cancer journey taking her? What kind of journey did she want it to be? She sought Dr. DuPree’s help in finding answers.  

“Dr. DuPree took my hand and looked me right in the eye and said, ‘We can do this together. I’ve got your back.’ It was kind of magical because I was so at ease. By the time I was ready to go into surgery I was like, ‘Let’s do this. I got this.”  

And she did. After a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, Laura is no longer afraid of cancer – she’s beat it.   

Her advice, now that she’s on the other side? First, be confident in the skills of your doctors and their staffs. Second, find some form of healthy creativity and “stay out of your head.”  

Most importantly, Laura said, believe in yourself along with believing in your caregivers.  

“Believe that the support you need is going to be there for you,” she said.   

For more information on the Breast Health Program, please call 928-204-4180 or visit nahealth.com/department/sedona-breast-care