Sep 25, 2025
“When I was reintroduced to my husband, I noticed he had a Livestrong bracelet on, which caught my attention,” said Cory. “We both graduated from Shafter High but ended up meeting again when I was back from college.”
Cory and Ismael, an English teacher, have been married 13 years. They have two children.
School and sports have always been important in Cory’s life.
“I grew up an athlete. In the middle of basketball season during my senior year, things changed. I wasn’t fast but I did have a lot of endurance. In January 2002, I couldn’t get up and down the court,” she explained. “We went through possibilities, everything from bronchitis to cancer. I was diagnosed on Valentine’s Day with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.”
Cory began chemotherapy every other week, 12 rounds total, through the second half of the school year.
Cory and Ismael Corrales at Bakersfield Links for Life Lace'n It Up Run. PHOTO COURTESY THE CORRALES FAMILY
Cory’s treatment plan began at UCLA but she was able to transfer to Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center.
“We’d go to the infusion center and my family members rotated. It wasn’t a downer thing. I never felt like I was alone,” said Cory. “That sense of community played such a huge role because many of the nurses already knew me. I don't know how my parents did it. I never saw them upset. They would still get up and go to work and do all the things. Maybe they did have their moments of pure exhaustion but they never let me see it.”
Better news came within a few months but Cory’s oncologist recommended she start college close to home.
“I got through chemo and was in remission before the last round. I took a month off from treatment before starting 30 days of radiation, beginning on my first day of class as a freshman at Bakersfield Junior College,” she said.
Cory later transferred to Claremont McKenna College for her master’s degree and teaching credential. She describes herself as an optimistic person, which also shaped her survivorship.
Life marched forward but additional check-ups were still routine, as a significant percentage of women with a history of lymphoma often develop a second diagnosis later in life.
“My oncologist sent me for mammograms early, around age 28,” said Cory. “Fast forward to 2020. The world closed down in March and my mammogram was due in May. I had a mammogram, an ultrasound, a breast MRI and needle biopsy. It came back as breast cancer, smaller than a pea. I couldn't even feel it. I ended up having a left breast mastectomy.”
Cory elected to avoid reconstructive surgery.
“I didn’t want any more surgeries than necessary, as my children were so young, preschool age. Thankfully, all of my margins came back the lowest I'd ever seen, so no chemo or radiation needed,” she said.
This time, though, seemed harder than with the lymphoma.
“I had little people who depended on me, a husband and a job,” Cory said. “I lost part of my womanhood and who I was. I am taking a hormone blocker, so that’s messing up all my hormones. There was also no face-to-face contact with people in the summer of 2020.”
Cory found comfort in Links for Life, a support and services organization. She joined a survivor’s group, which had transitioned to virtual meetings during the pandemic.
“I could sit with my little wounded body on Zoom. It was so pivotal for me to meet other moms, other women whose bodies didn't look normal to them anymore, who were on the same medication,” said Cory. “That was the biggest blessing. The Lord knew exactly what I needed.”
Q. What do you wish women knew about cancer detection? I wish all women had access the way I had access. I wish women weren't scared of the results so often. When I had to go back, I vented to my Dad and he said ‘But Cory, this is why we go in for all of our checkups. If you know it's going to be there, would you rather have it be at Stage One or Stage Three or Four?’ It's not a death sentence but women don't know that if their experience shows that it's a death sentence.
Q. What should families in the Kern County area know more about in their community?
Links for Life
Q. What is your parenting PSA?
A good night's rest solves a lot of problems.
Fill-in-the-blank questions:
- The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is.... Make coffee
- Favorite restaurant: Frugatti's and Mama Roomba
- My favorite food is... Baked potato
- So far, my best life advice is... Just do the best you can do.
