Tracy’s Story

My story is kind of crazy. I have been a single mother to my son, who is now 22.

In June 2021, my story slowly began. I changed stores where I was working, and that same week, I ended up in the emergency room to rule out a kidney infection. During a CT scan, doctors discovered that my IUD was not in the correct position.

Over the next few months, I began the process of scheduling its removal. After a few appointments, the doctors finally set a surgical date. Around that time, I started noticing increasing pain in my legs. They ordered lab work because of the pain, which revealed the second clue that something was wrong—my CA-125 level was almost 200.

On Jan. 6, 2022, I had surgery to remove the IUD. During the procedure, my bowels and an artery were accidentally cut, though this was not noticed at the time.

In the days that followed, I became very sick and lost my appetite, which sent me back to the emergency room.

That ER visit kicked off a very scary month. I had surgery to repair the damage, and during the tests to figure out what was going on, doctors found lesions on my pelvis. I still remember the doctors coming into my hospital room the afternoon of my surgery and asking about my family history of cancer. That was around Jan. 9.

Between Jan. 9 and Jan. 25, no one mentioned the lesions again, but during that time, I went through multiple scans, tests, and surgeries due to complications.

When I was finally discharged from the hospital, the PA at my doctor’s office took quick action. I had a video appointment with her, followed by an in-office visit a week later. I’ll never forget that visit. She walked in with a huge stack of papers and said, “What the heck!”

She immediately ordered a mammogram and bone scan. On Feb. 15, I had my first mammogram, along with an ultrasound and a biopsy. At the mammogram appointment, they told me it was cancer.

That same day, I had a separate appointment to remove a surgical drain from my stomach. While eating lunch on my way home, I received a phone call asking me to return for another biopsy that same day.

On Feb. 17, I got the confirmation—they officially diagnosed the cancer. I was scheduled to meet my new care team on Feb. 21. Over the next two weeks, I had additional biopsies and tests.

It has been almost three years now, and I’m still fighting every day!

-Tracy