X Frontwoman Exene Cervenka Has Multiple Sclerosis
- Posted on Jun 2nd 2009 12:15PM by David Chiu
- Comments (79)
Singer Exene Cervenka of X announced on the band's website Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. "Although this is obviously unfortunate news, I am choosing to see the positive in it," she says in a statement. She maintains that her condition will not affect her participation on the current tour with punk band or the release of her upcoming album in the fall. "My focus will certainly be on maintaining my health -- many people remain strong and continue to live their lives as productively as they had before an MS diagnosis and I plan to be one of those people."
"It's a little bit of a reality check," John Doe, Cervenka's X bandmate, longtime collaborator and ex-husband, tells Spinner. "She's great. There's a lot of people that live with this. We take care of our own."
"She realizes that this is another challenge," Doe continues. "She's got a lot of support and it's all good. We'll take good care of Exene, don't worry."
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Sting's daughter Coco, seen here on the right, is "recovering beautifully" after a very scary mishap in a Los Angeles restaurant. The 18-year-old fell backwards and cracked her skull on a chair, and was in the intensive care ward of a nearby hospital.
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David Hasselhoff was reportedly rushed to the hospital on May 2 for alcohol poisoning. His blood-alcohol level was reportedly .39.
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The singer, born Christine Cervenka, has been a member of X since 1977, and co-wrote many of the band's songs with Doe. She is also a member of the group the Knitters, which includes X's Doe and drummer DJ Bonebrake. Cervenka is also an artist and poet -- one of her books, 'Adulterers Anonymous,' with Lydia Lunch, was published in 1982. Cervenka was once married to actor Viggo Mortensen, and the two have a child together, Henry.
Cervenka and Doe has been writing new material together recently. One of their songs, 'It Just Dawned On Me,' appears on his Doe's collaborative album with the Sadies, 'Country Club.'
Meanwhile, X is right now in the middle of their 'Total Request Live' tour, which is also contributing to Sweet Relief, an organization started by Victoria Williams for musicians who need assistance to pay for their medical care.
Reader Comments(1 of 4)
Josieat 6-02-2009
My prayers are with you!!!!!!
Dee Deeat 6-02-2009
I have Relapsing/Remitting MS and have been diagnosed since 1997. Attitude is helpful in managing this disease, but it isn't a cure.
docvballat 6-02-2009
Bayer has a new drug that is in trials now and scheduled for release in 2012. There present drug is only capable of slowing the disease but the new drug reportly will stop the progression of MS completely.
mpanther18at 6-02-2009
and would like to hazard a guess as to how much said medicine will cost...most of these medicines are not an option for most..but there is one real alternative...involving no shots, no iv's and no sums of ricdiculous amounts o fmoney and that is "LDN"...research and find out about it. and by the way, bayer is not even close to release of any oral medication that will stop the progression of ms completely. before you fill people with false hope. check out the various sites, get the lastest information and then pass it on...a good site for info is "thechronicafflictionnetwork"...it covers not only ms , but a variety of other conditions and besides being informative as to the lastest news, it is is upbeat and inspring which certainly proves to be a real help in fending off the stress that ms can cause. please pay close attention to the many sites that are out there...some are very reliable and others are just full of false information. there ar emany magazines which are dedicated to the latest news on the researcxch being conducted in the america and around the world...more taking place overseas...the money factor is not as stong nor politically motivated, but now perhaps for the first time...we stand a chance of actually receiving the care and medicine we need now, not in the two years after medicare decides...oh, yes..that one is disabled and that is done after years of denials in hopes you will get frustrated and give up. but ms gives you a fighting spirit and a purpose to go on and not let it become your identity...you are still you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
marlaat 6-03-2009
my husband has MS...i have not heard of a drug that will stop the progression...i hope you are right! I will do some investigating. There is a treatment they do at john-hopkins a chemo that will reprogram the immune system. $30,000.....seems like it works for those who have had it.
fosgatexltat 6-03-2009
The only drug I have heard of so far that will stop the progression of MS(which I have) is Tysabri infusions. When it first hit the market, it killed 1 or 2 people so it was suspended. Once they realized why it killed people(mixing it with other medicines) it was put back on the market. I have been on it for over a year and I am better than I was before I got sick. I still get tired, but that is normal. Check into that drug. The infusion lasts about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, one day a month. I had been on Avonex, Copaxone, rebif and many Solumedrol I.V.s that lasted a week at a time before that, none of them working.
hbaghoomiaat 6-02-2009
I this a genetic disease or you catch it some how? any body knows? I wish her the best luck.
jzarr85756at 6-02-2009
I was diognosedabout 6 years ago. In my case i am an older male and i inject BataSeron every other day. So far so good, I still ride my motorcycle and live a normal life. You'll be fine...Good Luck.
rreggaeredkcat 6-02-2009
MS is unfortunately a neurological diagnosis. We all have motor and sensory nerves which allow us to use our limbs and use them safely. All of those nerves are "coated" with what is called the myelin sheath. This "coating" is what allows one nerve cell to pass a message to the next nerve cell. When those messages don't go through anymore, we develop problems with motor and sensory nerves, especially the octic nerve for eyesight. Muscles will begin at an eventual point to atrophy. This is a very sad and crippling disease and attitude goes a long way with this! The better your attitude, the better your chances of going into remission. Some can stay in remission for up to 20 years.
lilipenaat 6-02-2009
I'VE HAD MS SINCE 1989 AND TRY TO KEEP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND I FEEL IT HELPS ALOT. I'VE BEEN ON COPAXONE FOR 10 YEARS AND IT HAS KEPT ME RELAPSE FREE. YOU WILL NEED TO START SOMETHING TO STOP THE RELAPSES ASK YOUR NEUROLOGIST. I WISH YOU LOTS OF LUCK.
stuat 6-02-2009
get a clue she is the lead singer of the most influential band ever out of L.A.
Carolat 6-02-2009
Hey Stu,,,,,maybe you should get a clue. Not everyone on this planet cares or knows who this chick is. I didn't know , now I do, and I still don't care. But I do care about her MS. Best of luck to her. I do hope she keeps a positive attitude because attitude can be everything. Your attitude is everything, too bad it's a negative one which comes across in your comment.
stephenjartiat 6-03-2009
Sorry Stu but the most influential band out of L.A. isn't X ,but rather THE BYRDS.....Hope Exene pulls through !!
Kelvinat 6-02-2009
Iv'e had MS for about 8 years now with minor attacks but other than that I live a normal life. The news about Bayer in 2012 is great if it is true. I am a 29yr old male. For the idiot who says that is asking who this person is that was just diagnosed, it doesnt matter who she is, she's a human being. No you dont have to care, no one asked you to read the article or care.
jurispaulat 6-02-2009
Prayers for Exene. She's fought tougher battles and won. Always have loved X and hope to see them this summer.
rwitte1076at 6-02-2009
I am 66 1/2 years young and was diagnosed with M.S. when I was 40. My mother in law was in a nursing home when she was 47 and remained there until she died at age 78. She gave up! I won't. I've been on Betaseron since it came out in 1992 along with a bunch of other stuff. Who cares if it works. Bareback riding a horse, even if you have to go to a therapeudic center and they lead you around will keep you walking and sometimes without a limp! I own two horses and am training a young one now as my 21 years old that I have riding for 15 years wont last forever. I may have MS but, MS doesn't have me. There have been a couple of times that I couldn't walk or even get on or off the comode without help. 8 weeks was the longest and 1 day was the shortest. The one dayer...it took me 20 minutes to go up two step on a paint ladder to get on my horse and no balance at all. Twice around the house and I was off. Went to bed and got up in the morning as though I never had the episode. It's not contageous and only deadly if you quit trying. My prayer are with everyone who has and....I've deathly afraid of needles my whole life, so to give myself shots....That was a gift from God that I can.
Jan Witte
bffhabat 6-04-2009
Jan, you have the right attitude. Me, finally diagnosed with MS in 03 after years of trying to tell doctors "something was not right". Injecting MS drugs made me feel like I was dying every day; no quality of life, so I quit them and focused on diet and my two QH mares. No matter how I feel on any given day, two times a day I go to the barn and care for and hang out with the horses. There is no better healing energy than laying across the bare back of a horse. Doctors tell you to lie down and rest; don't over exert. Wrong. If I had followed that advice I'd be stuck in bed. Instead, I clean stalls and do everything horse every day - no matter how I feel. I ALWAYS feel better once I am there. I contribute my continued mobility to attitude, diet and horses. Best to you. Kat
bryna49at 6-02-2009
I also have relapsing-remitting MS. I was diagnosed 6 years ago at the age of 53 and it is thought that I have had it longer than that but,it was never correctly diagnosed. I am on a drug called Avonex. It is a shot that I get once a week. The symptoms I have are numbness, tingling and tremors. Avonex seems to help keep my symptoms in control. I am active and am living a normal life. I do get fatigued but have found a way to deal with that and the depression. It's okay enjoy life everyone. I know I am.
kalah55at 6-03-2009
Me too! I am 55 and for the past three years, take avonnex injections. I use a cane but my gait is really only worst starting late afternoon.
dreka51at 6-02-2009
I have been diagnosed almost 6yrs. with MS 9/08/03 Drug Free. I change my eating habits went vegan. MS is controlled by what you eat & Attitude. My Dr'S said it is like a miracle . I never took any drugs ever, regain juicing carrots & celery regain my eyesight use of my limbs. God is a good, to God be the Glory no setbacks. I would encourage all people with MS to change their eating style and see miraclous results.