When Kathy Baker-Carothers felt anxiety building after the mammogram found breast cancer, she knew what to do.

Hook a fly and cast it across a sun-warmed river.

"For me, just being in nature plays a huge part in my being centered and grounded," said Baker-Carothers, a now cancer-free Realtor in Coeur d'Alene. "I've been fly fishing for many, many years. It takes your mind totally off of what goes on at the moment."

It's a mental escapism, she feels, that every woman who has faced breast cancer deserves.

So she and others are giving women a chance to cast their fears away.

The North Idaho and Eastern Washington chapter of Casting for Recovery, a national nonprofit, is holding a fly fishing retreat this summer for women who have, or have had, breast cancer.

The retreat to Shoshone Base Camp, scheduled June 28-30, will combine fly-fishing instruction with counseling and medical education.

Women can compare their experiences with other cancer fighters. A psychologist and doctor will hold discussions on medical issues and coping with the disease.

Best of all, participants will be immersed in nature, while engaging in relaxing exercise.

"It's the emotional benefit of being out in nature," said Baker-Carothers, volunteer for Casting for Recovery. "And they've found for women who have had breast cancer, the motion of casting a line has been very therapeutic."

The retreat is free, for those selected to go.

Only 14 who apply for the program will be picked through a lottery to attend.

Baker-Carothers encourages any woman given a breast cancer diagnosis in the North Idaho and Eastern Washington region to apply.

"It doesn't matter how long they've had cancer or what stage they're in, or how long ago it was (they had cancer)," she said of applying for the retreat.

Women can apply at www.castingforrecovery.org. The application deadline is April 19.

A banquet fundraiser to cover the cost of the retreat is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on April 27, in the Coeur d'Alene Best Western Inn.

The event will include dinner and an auction. Tickets cost $30 for an individual, $50 for a couple and $180 for a table for eight. Purchase tickets from Dave Londeree, available at 946-6631, or dlonderee@roadrunner.com.

Sailing a fly across the waves still brings Baker-Carothers peace, she said.

Even with the recent brush with cancer still fresh in her mind.

"I just really thought I could offer that to some other women who were going through this," she said.