INDIANAPOLIS — Nora Cordrey celebrated a major milestone birthday in August.
"Turned 75. I have a new mantra this year: '75 and still alive.' It's a wonderful thing to be," Cordrey said.
It's wonderful, given she has been breast cancer-free for 33 years — but she remembers 1991 as if it was yesterday.
"I was 42 years old, and I found a lump," Cordrey said.
The doctor ordered a mammogram. The results prompted Cordrey to undergo a lumpectomy.
"Before I left the hospital, I knew it was breast cancer," Cordrey said.
A doctor removed 10 or 11 lymph nodes.
"Praise the Lord. Those were all clear," Cordrey said.
But, a consultation with a radiologist discovered another concern.
"He informed us that they didn't get it all when they did the lumpectomy," Cordrey said. "The radiologist said, the margins weren't clear, but it was small, and we think the surgeon got enough that the radiation should take care of it."
She had Stage 1 breast cancer and went through six weeks of radiation. Cordrey took tamoxifen for five years and has seen an oncologist from 1992 until 2013.
"And, here I am today," Cordrey said. "Not a day goes by that I don't still think about that experience and what could have been. Even after 33 years, there's a little voice in your head that says, 'Could it come back? Could it appear somewhere else?'"
It has not.
"I've been blessed. I count my blessings every day that I'm enjoying life and very thankful that things have happened the way they did," Cordrey said.
Cordrey is living a full and active life in Westfield.
"I do water aerobics, I do a lot of walking, there's pickleball," Cordrey said. "I ride my bicycle. I do enjoy the outdoors tremendously."
She and her husband travel to national parks while also enjoying time with their kids and six grandchildren.
Now, she wants to pay it forward to others suffering.
"I have been involved in a lot of fundraising for breast cancer over the years and participated in many walks around the country," Cordrey said.
The retired school teacher has assembled a team of 24 to walk and raise money at the Susan G. Komen "More Than Pink Walk" at Military Park in Indianapolis on Saturday, Oct. 5.
"I'm so impressed by Komen's mission. I believe in their mission of saving lives," Cordrey said.
Cordrey wants to share her experience and encourage others to get checked.
"Mammograms and early detection is really key," Cordrey said. "Self awareness of your body is important and to advocate for yourself."
Cordrey points out the advances in breast cancer treatment and the success for patients over the years.
"Between 1989 and 2020, the mortality rate after a breast cancer diagnosis has been reduced by 43%," Cordrey said. "So, many more people are living after being diagnosed today."
She is a champion for the efforts of Susan G. Komen.
"I encourage anyone who is interested in learning how their dollars are spent when they donate to Komen to check out their website. It's amazing. They are doing so much in terms of funding research, clinical trials, providing services for cancer patients," Cordrey said. "So many things have changed when it comes to treatment and the diagnostic tools that are being used now. I had a general surgeon do my surgery in 1991. And now, of course, there are breast cancer surgeons that specialize in that."
Saturday may be pink, but the goal is much bigger.
"To think about a world without breast cancer, we're getting there," Cordrey said.