Laura’s Story
When Laura was diagnosed with Stage 1A breast cancer in February 2019, she was grateful it had been caught early—but that didn't make the experience any less frightening.
"I was terrified," she recalls.
Even with an early-stage diagnosis, cancer brought fear, uncertainty, and emotions she never expected. After a lumpectomy, radiation treatment, and nearly seven years of Tamoxifen, Laura is now approaching a milestone she once dreamed about: taking her final dose of medication.
But like many survivors discover, healing doesn't simply end when treatment does.
After cancer, Laura found herself searching for something she didn't even fully realize she needed—a community that understood.
That's when she found Be Well.
"The discovery of Be Well was a game changer for me," she says.
From her very first class, Laura felt something different. She wasn't intimidated. She didn't feel pressure to explain her experience or move on before she was ready. Instead, she found a place where she could arrive exactly as she was.
"I felt welcomed, not intimidated, and I felt maybe I could find community."
Over time, Be Well became more than a yoga class. It became an important part of her healing.
"Be Well classes help me get out of my head and find peace," Laura shares. "I sleep better, I show up for myself better, my whole life is emotionally better because of Be Well."
One experience that has stayed with Laura was learning a restorative bridge pose in class. She remembers feeling completely supported and at peace—a feeling she continues to return to in her own practice.
But perhaps the greatest gift has been finding a community where survivorship is understood.
While some people want to leave cancer in the past, Laura has found comfort in acknowledging that cancer will always be part of her story.
"I have acquaintances and colleagues who seem so eager to forget they ever had cancer and just move on," she says. "But with Be Well I don't have to bury my feelings. I can be a cancer survivor and be thriving in my life."
Today, Laura embraces survivorship not as something to move beyond, but as a part of who she is.
Cancer changed her life, but it also led her to a community, a practice, and a strength she carries with her every day.
For Laura, survivorship means finding joy, appreciating her health, and facing whatever comes next with confidence.
"I've already gotten through some real junk," she says. "And I made it through."
Join Our Community
Be Well Therapy provides free yoga, wellness programs, retreats, and supportive community for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.
💛 If you were inspired by this story, please consider making a donation to help us support more individuals navigating cancer.
If you or someone you love is navigating cancer, we invite you to join the Be Well community and discover free yoga, wellness programs, retreats, and meaningful connections with others who understand.