Cancer never strikes at an opportune time. When it hit me I was moving with my young son, Justin, to San Jose, California, after years of running my own business in Los Angeles. It was a hard move because all my family and friends were in Southern California, but I wanted to work in a television station and possibly become a news reporter. A job opened up for a camera operator and I took the job, even though it required a move.

I was working at a television station as a camera operator for the 5 and 11 O’clock news. I also worked as a physical education instructor during the day. Having two-part time jobs allowed me to spend time with my son and to take him to his sporting events. I started studying nutrition and the benefits of fresh fruits, vegetables, and juicing. We stopped eating meat and anything that included preservatives or additives. I had a membership at the gym and exercised every morning.

Like many colon cancer patients, one day I noticed some rectal bleeding. I was under a lot of stress at the time so I thought it was due to stress or hemorrhoids. The bleeding only lasted for a few days then stopped. I thought everything was okay, but a few days later it returned and was heavier. The only doctor I saw in those days was my gynecologist, who I saw once a year for my annual exam. I told him I was in the best shape of my life, I was feeling great, but I had some bleeding. He confirmed that I had hemorrhoids, but they did not look bad.

He sent me to a surgeon who performed a sigmoidoscopy and found a polyp. He removed it at the time and sent it out for a biopsy. When he showed it to me I thought it looked like an evil thing, but I felt I would be fine because I was taking care of myself and felt great. One week later he had me come back and told me I had Stage I colon cancer and needed a colon resection to make sure the cancer had not spread to my vital organs. Within a few weeks, I went in for the colon resection, and spent a week in the hospital. During this time, I was told that the cancer had not spread and I would require no further treatment.

Cancer was a turning point in my life. I felt my mission in life must be to talk to people about health, nutrition, exercise, and cancer awareness. Since my successful early diagnosis and surgery, I became a runner and ran in many races and started weight lifting and body building. I keep my body strong and healthy through always eating a clean diet filled with foods that benefit my body and give me the energy I need.

I became a Toastmaster to learn how to speak in public so I could speak to people about colon cancer and how to live a healthy lifestyle. I study nutrition so I can keep myself healthy and help others to learn how to eat healthy. I have been cancer free for 14 years. I get a colonoscopy every other year and I speak to people about my experience with cancer and urge everyone to get their colonoscopy if they have any bleeding or unusual bowel problems.

Colon Club Featured Survivor

Tracy was featured in the 2008 Colondar, a project of The Colon Club.