I had the pleasure of talking with our newest recipient Paige about her breast cancer journey. My first impression was, damn, this woman is so strong. Her story is one of courage, shocking setbacks, unbridled love, and following her dreams at all costs. In the end looking breast cancer in the eye and refusing to let it stop her from living her best life.

Paige was first diagnosed on January 5th, 2016 when she found a lump 2 weeks after a breast exam. This discovery resulted in a biopsy and ultimately a unilateral mastectomy and hormone therapy meds for 2 years to treat and recover.

Then, 2 years later after having regular hip pain, she was sent to PT. Deep down she knew it was more than a hurt hip and advocated to look deeper into the pain. After speaking with her doctor, she had a PET scan and the area was biopsied. Then on 2/22/18, the day before her 28th birthday and the weekend of her bachelorette party, she got the news, the breast cancer had metastasized to her right ilium bone. She was utterly shocked. The doctor told her she had 3 years to live and “he would be surprised if she were alive in 20 years”.

She kept the news to herself that night, except for confiding in her father. The news spread quickly to her sister and close friends who were in town to celebrate with her. They tried to not let the news take over the joy of the weekend, after all they were here to celebrate! I genuinely believe things happen at the time they are meant to and, though this news was devastating, and the timing was less than ideal, having family and friends close while Paige and everyone absorbed the news, couldn’t have been more meaningful.

Paige had to start treatment right away. There was no time to waste, after all, the wedding was just around the corner. Her Oncology team at the Cleveland Clinic explained that Paige’s cancer was estrogen positive cancer, more specific test results showed that this type of breast cancer would not respond to chemotherapy. Her treatment plan began with 3 radiation treatments then it was off to Estes Park, Colorado where she and her fiancé, Cody, married on March 27th at a beautifully simple wedding in one of the most gorgeous places on the Earth. Just days later the newlyweds road-tripped to Cleveland after packing their belongings into a storage unit. Upon arrival in Cleveland Paige started her ovarian suppression treatments and moved into her childhood home to focus on her healing journey.

After a whirlwind trip with newlywed excitement, Paige and her husband had clear intentions to move back to Colorado, and her oncology team was on board to make that possible for them. Soon after Paige began Yoga teacher training in Denver. In July, once she completed her yoga training it was back to Cleveland to visit her Oncology team. She had great results from that PET Scan. It was a wonderful time. The family gathered on July 28th for a celebratory reception for the newlyweds.

Just a few days after their wedding reception Paige had to make the hard decision to have her ovaries removed and forfeit her option to have children of their own, but she knew in her heart of hearts that it was the right decision. Just a week after her procedure, in August of 2018 Paige and Cody made their move to Colorado where they have lived for the last 2 years. Most recently, during the height of the COVID Pandemic, they made their final move to their beloved Estes Park in April of 2020.

Paige commemorates each year of the anniversary of her diagnosis with a new tattoo as a reminder of how far she has come and where she has the potential to go. A new tattoo for Paige is on the horizon as she approaches her 31st birthday and another year of living a full and beautiful life. She continues her treatment at UC health with Dr. Borges. Every six months she makes her way down from Estes Park to stay for a couple of days, receive CT and bone scans, and await results. Though she is there all day to prep and receive scans she remains grateful and positive.

“Do not lose your hope no matter what! Remember you still have control over your mind and your body”- Paige

With love,
Shannon and the Malas for Tatas Team

Meet Paige, Our Newest Recipient