On Saturday, July 28, Cypress resident Elena Starkey, 54, who lived in Garden Grove for about a decade, performed a courageous feat. The Cypress resident ran in the Cypress 10K/5K Run and Walk with one functional lung, cancer and an uncertain amount of time left to live.
“I really want to do this,” Starkey said. “It means so much to me to be able to run again.”
On Saturday, July 28, Cypress resident Elena Starkey, 54, who lived in Garden Grove for about a decade, performed a courageous feat. The Cypress resident ran in the Cypress 10K/5K Run and Walk with one functional lung, cancer and an uncertain amount of time left to live.
“I really want to do this,” Starkey said. “It means so much to me to be able to run again.”
In 2008, Starkey discovered a lump in her nose. She initially ignored it, but when it began to obstruct her airflow and bleed, she had it checked out. The diagnosis: Mucosal Melanoma, an untreatable and rare form of cancer that affects one out of 25 million people. Nobody knows what causes it and no treatment exists other than to cut it out.
Starkey has since undergone a grueling treatment regimen and multiple surgeries.
To remove the lump from her nose, surgeons cut all the way from the base of her skull to the roof of her mouth, which Starkey said “revealed a large and invasive affected area, resulting in 20 biopsies.” Additionally, the loss of cartilage caused the collapse of her nose, which she can’t reconstruct until the bone completely heals. If that weren’t enough, Starkey has experienced side effects, including a painful bone infection and “osteo-radionecrosis” in her mid-face, partial loss of hearing and taste, and total loss of smell.
To make matters worse, the cancer metastasized, and Starkey, who underwent chemotherapy in 2009, developed breast cancer, which forced the removal of her left breast. She also lost 2/3 of a lung, but despite the countless injections, medications, and scans every three months, the cancer managed to spread into the lymph nodes of her neck.
“Once this metastasizes, there’s really nothing to do,” said Starkey, who will not undergo another operation because of the damage it might cause.
She could take what’s called immune therapy and additional chemotherapy, or participate in a clinical trial at UCI, but that would essentially serve as a band aid.
Rather than dwell on it, Starkey, who remains positive and gracious, has continued to go about her life.
“I am not happy to have it,” she said. “It’s been painful and very hard sometimes, but I am not going to speculate, and I’m not depressed or living in fear. I just have so much joy that I can continue to do the things I love.”
For example, she’s still working.
In June, she finished her 13th year at Grace Christian, where she teaches Spanish to middle school students and helped establish a program that allows them to learn the foreign language as early as kindergarten. She will even return to work in the fall.
“I just love teaching and love kids,” she said. “I am so looking forward to it.”
She’s also looking forward to running this weekend, a pleasant surprise considering she had the lung surgery in January. This will mark the third time she has participated in the Cypress 10K/5K, which she debuted at 24 years ago.
“I have really been so blessed,” said Starkey, who used to run at other local events like the Race on the Base. “I really want to do this and feel like this is a gift.”
Prior to the lung surgery, Starkey ran six miles a day – no problem. Though she now breathes much harder and must exert more energy, she can still match that distance.
“I guess my body adapted,” she said.
Starkey set the pace with Sweeney, a cashier at the Ralph’s Grocery Store in Cypress, as well as her friend Laurie Laurie Beighton. She was also joined for the first time by both of her daughters: Megan, 25, and Allison, 19.
“We have practiced together, but never ran in a race before,” said Starkey, who also has a 23-year-old son, David. “This is really a special thing.”
Starkey grew up in Los Alamitos, attending Oak Junior High, where she ran track and played the school’s orchestra. She later went to Los Alamitos High, graduating in 1976, and then to Smith College in Northampton, Mass., where she double majored in English and music.
“Nobody has ever heard of it,” said Starkey, who plays the flute and piano. “Well, nobody out here.”
While in college Starkey met her husband, David Starkey, who she married in 1980. That same year the couple returned to Southern California, originally settling in Garden Grove. Starkey worked as a secretary at SeaCoast Church in Cypress and taught piano lessons while her husband embarked on a career in water damage treatment.
The couple eventually moved to Cypress to raise their children, who have done extremely well; Megan earned a master’s degree in archaeology, Allison just finished her second year of nursing school, and David works as a computer tech.
“I love spending time with all of them,” Starkey said. “They have all been so great.”
In her spare time, Starkey enjoys reading, playing piano, cooking, and going to the beach. Additionally, she attends Bethany Church in Long Beach. In fact, Starkey credited her Christian faith and relationship with God as the source of her strength.
“God is so amazing and beautiful,” she said. “I can’t begin to tell you enough about my faith, and I know everything will be alright because I’m going to heaven.”
Starkey also supports cancer foundations. She even donated money to benefit cancer victims while registering for the Cypress 10K/5K.
“I don’t think that was offered the last time I ran,” Starkey said. “I don’t know for sure if it’s new, but I think it’s really great.”
Those who know Starkey, such as Sweeney, say the same thing about her.
“She’s a hero,” Sweeney said. “She’s an inspiration to all women.”
Oh, and as far as her time? Rather unimportant in the big scheme of things. Who wouldn’t agree she’s a winner?
