Garner couple navigates second breast cancer diagnosis

A Garner couple is facing immense challenges. Laura Culbreth is battling a recurring aggressive breast cancer, first diagnosed just two weeks before her 2022 wedding and returning in late 2024.
Posted 8/1/2025, 10:27:13 PM Updated 8/1/2025, 11:00:05 PM

HERE ON WRAL NEWS ON THIS

FRIDAY.

>> A DREAM WEDDING, A DIAGNOSIS

AND NOW A SECOND FIGHT. THAT'S

A REALITY. THIS WEEK COUNTY

COUPLE IS FACING.

>> LAURA COLE WITH HIS ONLY

36 AND PART OF AN ALARMING

TREND OF YOUNGER PEOPLE BEING

DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER. THE

BUREAU HEALTH REPORTER GRACE

HEY, BUT TELLS US HOW THE

COUPLE IS PUSHING THROUGH THIS.

AND SPEAKING OUT.

>> IN SICK WITH THIS WAS THE

SUMMER OF 2022. 2 WORDS OF A

LIFELONG PROMISE JOB THAT, YOU

KNOW, THAT THAT PART OF THE

BOUNCE IS GETTING A REAL

WORKOUT QUICKLY PUT TO THE TEST

FOR LAURA AND SEAN COBRA, HOW

THINK ABOUT CANCER EVERY

ALL-TIME LOWS, CANCER DIAGNOSIS

CAME JUST 2 WEEKS AFTER THEIR

HONEY. THAT WAS TEAM 16 DOSES

OF CHEMOTHERAPY ARE SEEING A

LOT TO ME.

>> I ALSO RECEIVED

IMMUNOTHERAPY AND RADIATION.

SHE WAS IN REMISSION FOR ALMOST

2 YEARS. THIS PAST DECEMBER

ROUTINE BLOOD WORK SHOWED HER

CANCER WAS BACK IN MAY. YOU

CAN COME NOW THE COUPLE'S DAYS

ARE ONCE AGAIN FILLED WITH

TRIPS TO UNC, REX AND WAKE

RADIOLOGY FOR MORE SCANS.

>> OKAY. SEEING MORE TESTS.

SO THIS IS AN EVENING DOSE AND

OF MORE MEDICATIONS AS NEW YORK

PREPARES FOR A DOUBLE

MASTECTOMY AT JUST 36 YEARS

OLD HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE

IDEA THAT I COULD DIE BEFORE

MY NIECES. REMEMBER ME?

>> I THAT'S A VERY HEAVY HAPPY.

>> TO CARRY. WE HAVE THINGS

THAT WE WERE LIKE. OH, YOU

KNOW, WE WE WANT TO DO THIS.

WE WANT TO DO THAT. WE WANT TO

TRAVEL MORE WHEN SHE STARTED

TRYING TO HAVE KIDS OR

SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW,

AND ALL OF THAT GETS RIPPED

AWAY AS THEY FIND JOY IN THE

BOARD. NORMAL MOMENTS TOGETHER

TO SHARE THE COUPLE HOPES

LAURA'S JOURNEY WILL REMIND

OTHERS YOU'RE NOT TOO YOUNG

FOR CANCER. I AN INCREDIBLY

GRATEFUL FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS

THAT TO ME VERY SERIOUSLY FROM

THE BEGINNING AS THE DUO FIGHTS

FOR THE CHANCE TO DISCOVER WHAT

IN HEALTH REALLY NEEDS IN THE

WAKE COUNTY GRACE. HEY, BUT

WRAL, NEWS.

>> COUPLES GONE FROM THE

HIGHEST OF HIGHS TO THE LOWEST

OF LOWS. WE WISH HER THE VERY

BEST LIKE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE.

LAUREN, SEAN, WANT ANSWERS.

WRAL HAS MORE OF THOSE STORIES

IN OUR DOCUMENTARY. IT'S CALLED

DIAGNOSIS YOUNG. THE NEW FACE

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