Silver Cross Manager Urges Others to Schedule Those Mammograms!

Shannon Connolly has an infectious optimism she gladly shares with everyone she interacts with as Manager of Central Scheduling/Insurance Verification at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. 

That’s especially true now that she has completed treatment for breast cancer found during a routine mammogram scan last November. 

“I will get up on the roof of the hospital and use a megaphone to tell women they need to get mammograms,” said Connelly. “Although people tell me I probably don’t need a megaphone.” 

From Manager to Patient

Connolly, 47, who joined Silver Cross as a CNA 23 years ago, transitioned to Patient Accounts and in 2019 to Central Scheduling, where she was promoted to supervisor just three months before the pandemic hit. Two years later, she was promoted to manager. 

In addition to the challenges posed during the height of the pandemic, Connolly said they had to handle the flurry of scheduling activity once in-hospital procedures were offered again. 

“It was something,” Connolly said. “But whatever the patient calls about, I want us to treat them like family. We are a community hospital, and we are all part of that community.” 

Following that scan in November, Connolly became part of another community: breast cancer patient. 

“After the scan, the technician said I should expect a call to come in for a diagnostic scan. I wasn’t really worried. I had had a pneumonia vaccine a few weeks before, and thought it was just a swollen lymph node.” 

It wasn’t, and a subsequent biopsy showed she had an invasive ductile carcinoma in her right breast. She immediately began working with a trio of physicians through the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Care Center at Silver Cross: Dr. Jennifer Gambla, breast surgeon;  Dr. Mark Tan, reconstructive surgeon; and Dr. Simonia Chivu, oncologist. 

“Dr. Gambla said I didn’t have to have both breasts removed, but I wanted to,” said Connolly. “I knew there was a chance it could come back, and I didn’t want to go through this again.” 

Fighting ‘The Devil’

“This” included four rounds of chemotherapy referred to as “The Red Devil” – Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and cyclophosphamide – because of its intense side effects from pummeling cancer cells. 

“I had been researching since I was diagnosed. So, I looked for ways to minimize the side effects. I learned that fasting – nothing but water and other liquids 48 to 72 hours before – helped. 

“Make no mistake … I was still very tired, but I think my side effects weren’t as bad as I’ve heard in others because of the fasting,” said Connolly. 

What also helped was having a great support network, Connolly said, including her mom, sister, brother, friends, and co-workers at Silver Cross. 

“They told me to stay home and just focus on getting better. And the staff I worked with during treatments were absolutely amazing.” 

Connolly returned to work July 8 and completed her 12 weekly rounds of Paclitaxel on Sept. 3. 

“I worked a full day. But I would go home, eat dinner and lie down,” she said. 

“And I feel blessed. I don’t need to have radiation treatment, and I don’t need to go back for blood work until December. If those are clear, then no further scans for now. 

“I don’t ask myself, ‘Why me?’ I say, ‘Why not me?’ I am in a position at Silver Cross where I can use my experiences to help breast cancer patients feel more comfortable as they go through the scheduling process. 

“If I can help even one person … Schedule those mammograms!” 

To learn more about mammography and other breast imaging services, or to make an appointment, visit silvercross.org.