This was my final chemo treatment. In one year I have recieved 10 chemo treatments. Since August 2009, that puts me at 9 months of chemo with a 3-month break (during the time I didn’t know it was coming back). It was bitter-sweet, teary eyed moment. My friend Krystal accompanied me:

Dr. Paul. He’s not always a midget:

Sarah, one of my nurses. It was cool because we were close to the same age:

However, this does not mean that I’m now off of the oral chemo – Xeloda. You know, my BFF that causes the awesome hand / foot syndrome. I’ll have to stay on this a few more months until I finish radiation. This is also why it’s hard for me to play gigs this summer.

OUCH:

Warning: this is not pretty. I am showing you this solely for educational reasons. I am not asking for your sympathy. The hand / foot syndrome also causes extreme peeling of the skin – no matter how much moisturizer you use. This occurs after the pain goes away. It is completely and utterly bizarre. For me it means holding off on pedicures or wearing those cute sandals I bought last summer. Good times:

My side effects from this last treatment were the absolute worst. I haven’t been completely honest (or telling) of every single thing I experience. But I will say that for the first time out of the 10 treatments, I found myself vomiting. Whereas in the past it would be a week of nausea. This lasted off and on all last week. In addition, my dehydration was so bad that I had to go into Rose Med 3 times last week for fluids. This is despite how much water I drank. Overall I received about 3.5 liters of saline. Is this behind me now? ABSOLUTELY. I am fully recovered and am thankful I may never have to experience that again. Good thing I stopped at four, huh?

I am not always happy:

This also changes my plans for Houston. There’s a certain time frame you must begin radiation following the completion of chemo. So instead of arriving October 1st and enjoying the month of Colorado’s beautiful Sept like I had originally planned – I now have to be there August 24th. I will be there for 7 weeks (47 days) from Aug 24 – Oct 9th and receive 6 weeks of daily radiation to my left breast (minus weekends). This is crazy. It only gives me one month to plan and prepare and find a place to “live” for 7 weeks. It’s been very stressful.

I have applied at the Church Apartment Ministries for an apartment for $39 or less a day. No religious affiliation to their church required. However I am on a waiting list and there’s no guarantee. Thus, there’s a chance I’ll be paying in the ballpark of $55 a day – which is actually the low-end you’ll find with extended stay hotels or furnished apartments. Let’s say that the church apartment thing doesn’t work out. I’m looking at spending around $2,700 total for a place to stay. Insurance does not cover lodging.

On July 30th I finally get my arm port removed!!!! That thing has wreaked havoc on me. The incision never fully healed, it created skin rashes due to my allergy to tape on my skin (certain Band-Aids) and it caused a clot. Duuuude! I will have to stay on blood thinners for 6 months. I didn’t have a port last time so thankfully I was spared. It’ll be a good day when I get this dorky thing out of me. Sorry guys, I’m NOT a fan!! It’s the damn truth. Hey, just being honest.

Here’s yet another non-awesome photo. No sympathy please. This is an example of the havoc. It took a while for the bruising to go away:

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So guys… I provided some telling photos here. But I want to reiterate that I’m NOT asking for sympathy. This is merely to tell my story, educate, and, for me… to be completely honest about what this journey is really like.

Let’s just say, although the facilities were nice, the staff was compassionate and total professionals and they took care of me, I’m happy to not have to sit in one of these nice chairs or see this room again! Yay for me!!

Now onto Houston. A new adventure awaits…

Elana

But I’ve got to be honest. As it turns out, chemo isn’t as hard as I had initially feared. I had no idea what was going to happen to me and was bracing for the worst (as anyone would). Other than being bald it’s my energy that’s been hit the most. I have a general overall weakness which comes and goes in waves, and occassionally a fever will goof on me. But the truth is that the type of treatment you recieve is all about the type of cancer you have, how far along it is, the size of the tumor, how many you may have, the stage, etc… It’s also important that the person recieving the treatment is already in good overall health before going into treatment.

In my case I was fortunate in that I caught it early. If I had waited one more month to do something about it who knows what would’ve happened or how “hard core” my chemo would’ve been?? All of these factors DO make a difference! The fact remains: my ki-67 score (agressivenes score) was over 95%. I have no doubt it would’ve had a block party if I didn’t do anything about it. All I can say folks is this: Early detection of cancer is THE best key for survival and for the least-impacting treatment possible (I’d like to believe that). Hint-hint-wink-wink.

I am also thankful and I’m more than appreciative of my friends and family whom have shown their support. I LOVE YOU!!

Since my last entry, my cousin Carrie came through town (she lives in Florida… hence the awesome tan…lol). Here’s a pic of us after we had dinner at PF Chang’s and were then hanging out at 1515:

Then my sole sibling Kim came to town for my 4th treatment (pix below). Is it just me or do I look like I’m posing like a President?:

Cheese!

And it’s cold as #$&% in there:

We also went out with some of my friends (sorry for the blur):

We also went to the hot springs in Idaho Springs, soaked and received long-overdue massages. Talk about a stress-relieving, toxin-releasing, relaxing-healing necessity! I took this photo of myself after. Can you see how insanely relaxed and peaceful I am? Hint: If you’d like to offer me a celebration gift for when I’m done, a gift cert to the hot springs would be well received! 8-]

For Halloween, Trevor and I thought it would be awesome to ride on this bald opportunity and be monks or something. Then at the last minute “Jesus” decided to join us. No offense folks. It’s all about the humor. We attended a party and were a hit! I had never paired up with others for a costume. All I can say is that this trio act was a blast!

So as I write this my Mom is with me now as she’s in town for my 5th treatment. Hence the hi-five, yo:

Mom:

And here she is trying on some of my wigs!

The next plan is that my sister is coming up for my last and final treatment! It’s scheduled for December 3rd. Woot! And then for the very first time Mom, Kim and I are going to having Christmas at my house instead of in Dallas where we’ve done it for every year since we were children. The primary reasons were money and my overall wellbeing (airplanes and airports). I guess I better get a tree.

ENJOY YOUR THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

Hugs and love and keep on rockin’ with your bad selves,
Elana

- Naor Nave acoustic
- Tempa & The Tantrums
- Melanie Susuras Band
- Something Underground (recently played Red Rocks!)
- Demon Funkies

Here’s a press release created by press writer – Suzanne Lainson:

“A popular member of the local music community, singer/songwriter Elana Rogers was diagnosed in June with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Two weeks later she had a double mastectomy with reconstructive surgery and is undergoing chemo.

It was that earlier bout with cancer that gave her the incentive to take up music. “It completely opened my eyes and made me really want to play. I didn’t care what people thought anymore.” She started on drums, then acoustic-electric guitar, then songwriting. She played in Dallas coffee houses and pubs, then relocated to Denver in 2002. She’s put out two CDs and played a number of venues and events in the Denver metro area. Said Michael Roberts of Westword, “Considering the mob of generic singer-songwriters currently operating in these parts, a performer can stand out only if she or he has something to offer beyond an excess of sensitivity. Fortunately, Rogers does.”