Moving forward with an open mind and an open heart

When I first started feeling a little off in 2023, I didn't really think it could be a health issue. I dismissed warning signs, believing as a busy working mom in her 40's, my body was changing and this was just a "new normal." When I finally decided to see a doctor, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. That diagnosis led to a colonoscopy, which led to a Stage 1 colon cancer diagnosis in April 2024.

Fast forward to August, when my gynecologist discovered two lumps in my breasts that I hadn't noticed before. Then came my second diagnosis - bilateral ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

When I first got that call, I freaked out. I was so frustrated and so mad. I felt like my body had just betrayed me. Getting a second cancer diagnosis in the same year was devastating, and I was scared it had spread everywhere. Before I told my kids, I wanted to have a plan. I didn't want to sit there and say, I don't know. I needed to understand what we were dealing with and what came next.

When I met with Dr. Harichand and her team at Mission Cancer + Blood, we mapped out a plan I felt good about. Having that level of expertise close to home was huge. I didn't have to travel hours to find the care I needed. I had access to advanced care, clinical insight, and the connection to University of Iowa Health Care right here.

In a time when everything felt hard, that made things feel manageable.

Even without chemotherapy, my oncology team has been a critical part of my care. There were a lot of conversations about medications, hormone therapy, and long-term decisions. Dr. Harichand took my full health history into account and helped me make the best decisions for my future.

Life didn't stop. It was hard, but it kept moving. I made a point to keep showing up, to keep living, and to find reasons to laugh.

I'm alive, and I'm really grateful for that. I'm excited to get back to the normal things, to go on vacation with my kids without a surgery or recovery hanging over us. It's a new normal, but I'm moving forward with an open mind and an open heart.

Paige Connolly
Colon cancer survivor and breast cancer survivor
Clive, Iowa