Tracy Murphy

My symptoms were mild to moderate, and it took 3 years to figure it out. I thought maybe it was long covid or grief from losing my dad. My biggest symptom was fatigue. It wasn’t until the tumor grew large enough to cause chronic constipation that my doctor ordered a colonoscopy. I knew going into it that it wasn’t good. I told the nurses, “I’m scared,” before they began. Stage 3c at 39 years old. I’ve never been so scared in my life. I have 2 sons that I need to be here for. I have things I still want to do. My only regret at that time was I felt like I hadn’t made enough art. 17 rounds of chemo later and I am NED. I quit my job to be a full time artist. I am grateful everyday just to be here.