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Breast cancer survivors celebrate life
The Colony resident and breast cancer survivor Stephanie Fitch recently modeled this fall's hottest trends in the Celebrating Women and Fall Fashion Show event hosted by Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano and Saks Fifth Avenue at The Shops at Willow Bend./Submitted photo
By BLAINE CRIMMINS, Staff writer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and this year marks 25 years of celebrating awareness, education, and empowerment.
Since its inception a quarter century ago, NBCAM has been at the forefront of promoting awareness of breast cancer issues and has evolved along with the national dialogue on breast cancer.
Although great strides have been made in raising awareness and improving treatment, there remains much to be accomplished, and no amount of pink ribbons can tell the story better than the women who have endured the struggles of coping with the disease.
"Over the years I have come to recognize that cancer is a formidable foe. I remember my mother weeping at the news of her father’s death from lung cancer. Then one day I was the one weeping when my mother died (of cancer)," she said. "Stunning. Brutal. Completely unforgiving."
Years later in March of 2005, Cordry discovered a lump in her breast. The discovery was compounded by other news in the forefront of her mind four and a half years ago.
"I had turned 40 the previous October, and had actually scheduled my first mammogram only to cancel it when I found out I was pregnant ... because x-rays are dangerous for the baby," she said.
Cordry called her doctor, who quickly arranged an ultrasound.
"One look at the screen told me the words I feared most – breast cancer. I lay on the table with tears running down my face saying the words, ‘but I am pregnant,’ as if that was some sort of defense," Cordry said. "(But) pregnancy was no defense. It was perhaps my greatest enemy. The hormones were driving my cancer."
In seeking to reconcile her dilemma, Cordry looked for an expert on the combination of cancer and pregnancy but was left with a wealth of contradictory information and unsatisfactory choices.
"The coming months resembled jumping off a cliff without a parachute," she said. "Luckily, I learned I could fly."
In April 2005, just 10 days after diagnosis, Cordry had a mastectomy to remove the affected breast and would late begin chemotherapy beyond 13 weeks into the pregnancy.
It's now October 2009. Cordry survived. And so did her son.
"During the months of chemotherapy we did bi-weekly ultrasounds to keep an eye on (the baby)," she said. "He grew slowly but showed few signs of distress. Once out of my system his genetics took over and he grew from a tiny 5 pounds to a hefty 20 pounds by 4 months and 30 pounds at one year.
"He will be 4 next month, and he is just amazing."
The past four years Cordry has been working to fulfill the promise she made when her mother died - the promise to make a difference.
In addition to sharing her story, Cordry leads a team in the Breast Cancer 3 Day, an event in which participants walk 60 miles over the course of three days, raising millions for research, education, and screening.
"This is my fourth year of leading a team in this event. It is no coincidence that this is also my fourth year as a survivor. This event gives me strength and courage," she said.
Her strength and courage would eventually earn her a nomination to participate in a Congressionally-directed medical research program at the forefront of efforts to eradicate breast cancer. Cordry worked alongside prominent scientists and other survivors directing $150 million in research funding.
She was going a long way toward fulfilling her promise, and she hopes her children understand what it all means to her.
"Buried in my heart is the understanding that I might not see my children graduate high school. I can’t imagine there would ever be an easy way to say goodbye to them. But one day, if I must, I can at least look them in the eye and tell them that I have indeed done everything I can in the fight to stay with them. I took everything the doctors offered.
"But more than that, I have stood up, I have reached out my hand, I have used my voice to keep Breast Cancer Awareness at the forefront of everyone whose path I cross."
For more on Cordry’s story, logon to www.the3day.org/goto/robin?. For information on Breast Cancer Awareness Month, logon to www.NBCAM.org.
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