My boss Ellen recently participated in Aspen’s “Race for the Cure” and wore my name and her Aunt Libby’s name on her back! Thank you Ellen! That’s her baby Wiley with her. Everybody say “aaaaaawwww”.

Exactly one month ago today on June 17, 2009 I had the fateful double mastectomy (with immediate reconstruction) on the advisement of multiple Dr’s. This unanimous decision was primarily due to the fact that this cancer was caused by the high gamma-ray direct radiation treatment I received to my neck and chest at 19 years of age.

That aside, the healing has been tremendous! I give credit to my youth, taking it easy, avoiding jumping jacks, and my already-existing great health (all things considering). I also give credit to my exceptional core team of providers and caretakers whom have been so diligent in helping me make the right decisions.

Playing the well-known sport of “Air Tennis”:

So where are we today? Well here’s the skinny. I have made a personal decision to preserve something very precious to me that I learned has a 60% chance of being permanently destroyed as a result of chemo. I have been given an opportunity to preserve this and have received the guidance and approval of my Oncologist. That was #1. In addition, I have found an organization that can help me financially with this decision. That was #2.

With both obstacles now out of way (thanks to fax machines, cell phones and email!), I am thankfully being given the opportunity to pursue this route and will henceforth begin my chemo treatments in mid-August. This mysterious organization? www.FertileHope.org.

So here I was alll worried that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the summer of 2009. Well @#$! that! It’s all about enjoying life right now and “living in the NOW” and appreciating what each day has to offer. Not to sound like corn, but it’s true! I am more positive and optimistic in my life right now than in recent memory. Needless to say I’m looking forward to flying past this, put this behind me soon and be done with it. The treatements will last 4.5 months and should be done by Thanksgiving or the week after (depending on an Aug 13th or 20th start).

You learn things about yourself when you are faced with challenges. The way I look at it is that you can CHOOSE your reaction. In my case, there’s no way in hell I’m going to let this be a “downer” and jade my inner core strength and power of the mind. I believe that the body, mind and spirit work as one. We each have the power to be our own healing vortex.

Sending “thankful” energy into the Universe, living in the NOW and never giving up on yourself are just some examples of the best tools to use in this situation. When you have self love and want to live fully, you may surprise yourself by discovering that your thoughts may default into the best mindset that they could possibly have. Imagine the possibilities.

So! Onto other things… With the help of friends I have been able to enjoy a camping trip, one of my many favorite things! This time I took it easy and didn’t lift many things or make use of my upper arm strength. Here are some pics taken from this past weekend at the “Hecla Junction” campsite near Salida, Colorado:

Playing by the campfire:

The coolest thing to do when camping. Sit by said campfire:

Friends Krystal and April came down the following day. That’s the “Arkansas River” next to our campsite:

We enjoyed a hike along the Colorado Trail near Mt. Princeton – one of Colorado’s esteemed “fourteeners”:

“YMCA!”:

A great crew of peeps:

And finally… for grins here’s what I could look like in 6 weeks. Yes, I’ve been goofing on the possibilities. And yes, that’s my hand on the left.

Until next time, stay tuned for “Elana tries to hold onto her long hair for as long as possible!”

Love,
ER

Click HERE for Colorado’s Westword Magazine on-line mention about my situtation, authored by Dave Herrera on July 7, 2009.

I had no idea until Suzanne Lainson left me a comment on my July 4th post. Thank you Dave!! Hugs to you! I hope to cross paths with you soon. Perhaps in a rose garden? *grin*

Smiles,
Elana

Happy being independent! ;] So I seem to have this calendar theme going. “One week to the day”, “One month ago today”. Heh.

No, seriously. Happy 4th of July!! I hope this year proves to be a splendid one for all. I say “splendid” because to me, grand fireworks over your head are a sight and sound to behold. Nothing compares to that one experience you have only once a year.

So yes, one month ago today – June 4, 2009 – I was diagnosed with BING! IDC breast cancer (see other posts for more details). So much has happened in a month. I can barely keep up with it myself.

My mom was here 16 days. During that time of recovery (still am), we enjoyed the Denver Botanical Gardens and took a drive to the top of Mt. Evans (Denver’s closest 14,000 ft mountain), and strolled through rose gardens at Wash Park. During this time I am discovering that I have an appreciation for the simplest of things – take roses, for instance. They are immaculately beautiful, pristine, and unique in their own right. No two are alike. Each color brings their own scent. I appreciate these delicate differences. In my life right now, and for the 1st time in a long time I am actually stopping and smelling the roses – literally!

Mom at the Botanical Gardens. I’m diggin’ on the upside down flowers… in a tree no less.

So last week I met with a new Oncologist whom specializes in breast cancer. He was my “2nd opinion”. For various reasons I have decided to receive my upcoming treatments from him and his facility. Nothing against my original one. He too is a good man, a genius and I appreciated his promptness with my situation. The original one was a Dr. I visited in the past for my Hodgkin’s check up (although I was deemed “cured” by the medical community in 2002). That said, it seems more fitting to me to be treated in a facility that’s directly breast-cancer focused. I will be amongst “sistah’s”. Das right!

However my next appointment with new said dude isn’t until July 15th. Until then I am in a holding pattern – unaware of when my chemo will begin or exactly what treatment. There was a mention of “TC only” when visiting with the 1st Doctor (Taxotere/Cyclophosphamide). He actually called the new one and they discussed my case on the phone while I was in the office. Turns out the “A” in the “TAC” treatment (another option) would cause possible heart trouble – specifically Adriamycin. And thirdly, the clinical trial option I was presented would also cause the same risk with Avastin. Hence = “TC only”.

Why such a fuss about my heart? Apparently with my mantle radiation 17 years ago, my heart MIGHT’VE been affected. But there has been no evidence of such. In fact the EKG I just had a few weeks ago came out with flying colors! Flying colors on the graph too. But both Dr’s mentioned that they didn’t want to take that risk.

So will I go with “TC only”? I won’t know until the 15th. The time between now and then will give me means to research what the heck that is and honestly, I haven’t had time for that. And when I DO have time I like to rest. Or write on this thing. LOL.

Last night, however, I stood in for a few songs with my beloved, favorite local blues-rock band Tempa & The Tantrums at the Boulder Outlook. There’s something to be said for feeling normal again:

Thank you guys for your love and support and lets keep on rockin’! I will be in touch.

Happy 4th to YOU!

Word,
Elana