Sorry it’s been a while since I posted. Well I’m now half way through my treatments! Only three more to go, and then I’m off to Houston for 6 weeks for radiation treatment. Then I’m done just in time for Thanksgiving! When all is said and done, it’ll be a year and a half-long battle since it all began in June 2009. I’m counting the 3.5 months between December and March when I didn’t know it was coming back. During that time I was working on getting my body back in shape and slowly watching my hair grow back.

Just before I lost my hair again, I had my hair colored. Cute, huh? Next time I might tone down the Annie Lennox look. Haha:

Let’s see… I get my last chemo treatment on Aug 20th – ironically the same date I STARTED treatment last year. Then I plan to enjoy the month of September here in Colorado and let my body recover, and then I’ll head to Houston in October for 6 weeks and live in short-term housing. I’ll be able to work remotely as long as I have my laptop and a phone. Living in Houston for 6 weeks will be a trip – no pun intended. It’ll be an adventure for sure!

The first burning question I’ll answer is what happened with that drug that cost me $543.00 for a 17-day supply? Well that’s lovely Xeloda. Yes, I say that with sarcasm. More on that in a minute. After applying to four agencies for hopeful financial assistance and being turned down by all of them, I was lucky that the manufacturer Roche has a “Patient Assistance Program” that approved me! So for the remainder of my treatment Xeloda is free! Thank you Roche!

The second burning question is how am I doing? Well Xeloda has caused me a host of problems. I’ve come down with this completely unexpected side effect: Hand & Foot Syndrome.

It’s a condition where your hands and feet turn red and purple and cause extreme pain, a burning sensation, blistering and ultimately peeling of skin (no matter how much you moisturize it). And yep, that’s my hand you see up there. Lovely, huh? So yeah, it’s caused me several problems. On bad days I can barely walk or even open a door or open bottle caps. Several times I haven’t been able to drive. Good times! The only solution is to lower my dose. So I went from 7 pills a day (2 weeks on, one week off) to 5 pills a day. It seems to be at its worst the day after an Ixabepalone treatment (the one via IV). Must be the overhaul of toxins in my body.

I’ve also had problems with my arm port. Unfortunately it’s caused me a blood clot, so now I’m on blood thinners. The port stays until the end of August. Other than the other usual side effects of chemo: dehydration, nausea, extreme fatigue, I’m doing fine. Except this time my side effects are more intensified.

Krystal accompanied me in 2nd treatment:

Christine accompanied for my 3rd treatment:

However, none of this has stopped me from living! Here’s a pic of us rockin’ out at the People’s Fair (June 6, 2010). Little did people know (other than friends) that I had on a wig and the arm band was to cover my port, and I had band-aids on my fingers so I could play guitar:

My artist friend Laurie Maves painted this picture of us performing! Eddie Garcia on guitar, Rob Cameron on drums, Greg Pasquariello on bass and Mark Mauldin on pedal steel and backing rhythm:

I spent a weekend in Aspen:

Here’s a camping trip I did with my sister with a bunch of other ladies (and 2 dudes). We went to Lost Lake campground in the Roosevelt Nat’l Forrest. Our campsite:

All the girlz. (L-R: Elana, Kimberly, Mandy, Krystal, Jen, Jody, April)

Memorial day weekend I camped with friends near Woodland Park. That was tough becuase my hand & foot syndrome kicked in for the 1st time – totally unexpected. I had no idea what was coming. I’ve also enjoyed a few Film on the Rocks (where they play movies at Red Rocks) and have seen a few concerts, like the Greeley Blues Fest, Thievery Coorporation at the Bottom’s Up in Aspen, and Tool at Red Rocks.

In other news I’m now the new Social Coordinator for a cancer-survivor groups called “YES – Young Empowered Survivors”. So keep your eyes open for some upcoming fun activities!

Then, I perform once again at this years Westminster Relay for Life on Friday, August 6th! Free to all. Anyone can come to this thing. I encourage my friends to join me this year! Usually I just show up by myself (or with band) and play. This will be my 5th year to not only do the Survivor walk, but perform…so please mark your calendar!

I look forward to getting the treatment over with and getting my hair, eyelashes and eyebrows back (again), but I’m not letting this treatment stop my summer! As per usual I’m enjoying camping and hiking, just not going as much. And I usually hit up hot springs but I can’t as long as I have hand / foot syndrome. Summer is my favorite time in Colorado. =)

THANK YOU to my family and friends that continue to support me (and get me out of the house!) during this crazy-ass time.

XO,
Elana