She beat it, but it’s back.
City Councilwoman Carla Madison just started a round-two battle against colon cancer. The first go-round was April 2006.
After a 20-year career as a physical therapist, Madison said she was fed up with the mounting pile of paperwork on top of a salary that didn’t budge for 15 years. With Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth approaching term limits, Madison set her sights on public service.
But before quitting her PT job and facing her 50th birthday, Madison went into the battery of medical tests that are indicated for people of a certain age.
The routine colonoscopy revealed a malignant tumor. Surgery was followed by six months of chemotherapy.
“My hair got thin and my eyelashes and hair on my arms fell out,” she said. “But I continued to work and stay as active as I could.” She recovered and went on to win the District 8 council seat.
Earlier this month, a routine blood draw led to a second cancer diagnosis. As a public figure, Madison has a message to her constituents.
“I want people to know if I don’t make their event, it’s not anything personal,” she said. Chemo treatments will take place on Thursdays every other week, followed by two days of chemo she administers through a pump. “Saturdays and Sundays I kick back and sleep a lot.”
As far as her civic duties, Madison plans to keep on ticking along. “I have every intention of being able to follow through with my promises to them,” she said. “I love my job and I want them to let me know if I’m slacking.”
What she abhors is pity. “I don’t want people bursting into tears or feeling sorry for me. We all have stuff we deal with. But don’t avoid me. I’m still the same old person — just back on drugs now.”
Boffo biz.
The much-anticipated see-and-be-seen fest — also known as Elway’s Cherry Creek Summer Music Series — kicks off June 17 with local vocals Opie Gone Bad, followed by The Railbenders on June 24.
This wildly popular series, with people packed on the covered patio (make reservations) and in the courtyard surrounding the bandstand, makes big bucks for the steakhouse — blowing the lid off liquor and food sales on a typical Wednesday.
Here’s the rest of the lineup: Police cover band Message in a Bottle, July 1; Soul School, July 8; Something Underground, July 15; The Informants, July 22; The Champions, July 29; Funkiphino, Aug. 5; Pete Martinez; Aug. 12; and U2 cover band Under a Blood Red Sky, Aug. 19. Reservations for the covered patio or restaurant: 303-399-5353.
Mayor’s missing mug.
Ever wonder why there aren’t huge photographs of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper plastered on the walls of Denver International Airport?
About 300 of Denver’s movers and shakers heard Hickenlooper’s explanation Thursday during the first State of DIA presentation at the Grand Hyatt Denver.
“I hate the way I look in a picture,” Hickenlooper explained.
Unlike Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s penchant for having his photo posted on public projects, Hickenlooper said he prefers to see the photos that DIA showcases of landmarks and activities “from all parts of the state.”
Max man.
Max MacKissock, the chef who opened Vita in Denver’s Highland neighborhood, has been named executive chef at primebar, the new spot under construction in the old Palomino space at 1515 Arapahoe St.
MacKissock has been consulting restaurants since he left Vita, including the nifty new Cafe Options, a breakfast and lunch eatery run by Work Options for Women, a welfare- to-work program, at 1650 Curtis St.
primebar, which features eclectic menu items from a foot-long hot dog to a pan-seared ribeye, aims to open the first week of May.
Memorial.
Longtime restaurant worker Bob Kopea, who toiled most recently at McCormick’s Fish House & Bar for nine years, lost his battle with cancer on March 28. His wife, Lori Strocchia, will host a celebration of his life at the Greek Pavilion at Cheesman Park today at 1 p.m.
Eavesdropping
on a woman at the Night Shift Saloon in Aurora: “I don’t do my own pedicures. Who can bend over that far?”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
