I am not just some stage-4 Ovarian Cancer survivor; I AM A 6 YEAR THRIVER!

I can barely believe those words every time I say them to myselt. In May 2019 when I was diagnosed my first stop, after crawling up off the floor, was to hit the internet. Here’s what I found.

The average 5-year survival rate for those diagnosed with stage-4 ovarian cancer is about 31%, with a 93% chance of a recurrence.

Let that sit with you for a moment. THIRTY percent is a pretty narrow survival lane to navigate through.

This is when I knew I had to find every possible option to get me there. The best doctors in a caring environment, the latest drug cocktails and the most aggressive treatment available. Luckily, I found all of this at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, with 2 incredible doc’s.

At that time, my cancer growth was doubling each month & 9 cycles of weekly chemotherapy kicked my ass. But I knew that wasn't going to be enough so I said yes to the “mother of all surgeries” (that's what they call it!), cytoreductive surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC).

In my 9-hour surgery, they inspected every organ from my abdominal cavity, cutting out any residual cancer that remained from chemo. Part of what makes HIPEC surgery so successful is its aggressive nature – removing all non-vital organs to reduce the areas where cancer can come back. For me, that meant taking out the spleen, gallbladder, omentum, appendix, and a radical hysterectomy. That’s part 1.

Next, a chemo drug is heated to 107 degrees & applied to the abdomen for 90 minutes while on the surgery table. This is where they Heat It, to Beat It baby! Get chemo where the cancer is trying to hide out in a temperature it can't survive.

Needless to say, this was an intensive recovery process that lasted long after my 8-day hospital stay. Today, I can share with great confidence that one of the main reasons I am living a completely full life is largely because of this HIPEC treatment.

I am incredibly humbled to be able to participate in the 16th Annual “Heat It To Beat It” walk again this year to raise awareness and funds to continue advancing medicine through research and promoting this life saving treatment. ​

The Institute for Cancer Care at Mercy is one of the top medical institutions in the U.S. that offers HIPEC treatment, often saying YES when other doctors have told cancer patients that are no more options for them.

I hope that you can join “Team Tracy” in supporting this important cause by participating in the walk or making a donation on my fundraising page.

THANK YOU very much for supporting me and bringing hope to so many others!