Diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 1986 at the age of 37, Kathy LaTour underwent a modified radical mastectomy and chemotherapy. Since her diagnosis of breast cancer, LaTour has been active in the national survivor community, speaking to survivor, medical, and lay audiences from coast to coast. She experienced a second diagnosis of breast cancer resulting in a second mastectomy in fall 2007, putting her in the unique perspective of being both a long-term survivor and a new survivor.

In 2004 LaTour debuted her one-woman show "One Mutant Cell," a humorous and poignant account of her journey through breast cancer, which she has performed more than 40 times for a variety of cancer events.

A writer and editor for more than 40 years, she currently serves as editor-at-large for CURE: Cancer, Updates, Research & Education, the largest circulation cancer-patient education magazine in the country that she helped found in 2001. In 2005 CURE was named the best health magazine in the country by Folio Magazine. For her writing on cancer she has received numerous awards including a first place from the Association of Health Care Journalists in 2011 for her article "The Cost of Living," which looked at the late effects of radiation for long-term survivors.

In 1993, William Morrow and Co. published her book The Breast Cancer Companion, based on interviews with more than 120 women and 75 men and healthcare professionals. She has appeared on The Today Show and her book was excerpted in Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul. The paperback edition, published by Avon Books, was released in 1994. Now out of print, The Breast Cancer Companion continues to sell and has been called "a bound support group" by oncologists and survivors.

She served for four years on the board of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, and helped found Gilda's Club North Texas. She was also instrumental in founding The Bridge Breast Network in Dallas, a unique coalition of breast cancer survivors and area healthcare professionals who are providing diagnosis and treatment to uninsured women who may have breast cancer.

For 23 years, Kathy LaTour served as a senior lecturer and an award-winning faculty member in corporate communications and public affairs at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she taught strategic writing courses and oversaw the nonprofit emphasis. She has also taught international public relations and editorial and critical writing. In 1997 she received the university's "M" award, the highest award given to faculty / staff at SMU.

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