Where to begin? Well, I’m a thirteen-year cancer survivor, but I didn’t know I had cancer for the first nine years. And yes, I still have cancer. And I’ve never felt better!
Formerly a fundraiser and musician, I now call myself the CEO of my health and spend my time fighting cancer, writing, putting ridiculous amounts of miles on my road bike, growing vegetables, and cooking fresh, plant-based meals. I’m also working towards a master’s degree in writing at Johns Hopkins University when I’m not doing one of the above.
My husband, Tom Dillickrath, and I live in northern Virginia with our two cats Briscoe and Curtiss. Tom, a corporate attorney in D.C., is also a cyclist, and when the weather is nice you will often find one or both of us riding along trails or streets in Virginia and southern Maryland.
I recently finished drafting my memoir and am now working towards securing an agent and publisher. For more information, email me at tkrulik@tracykrulik.com.
Recent articles:
- “The skinny on obesity,” KevinMD.com, December 2011
- “I Have Cancer. And I’ve Never Felt Better!” Physicians News Digest, November 2011
- “Same pancreatic cancer, different outcome,” The Washington Post, October 2011 (an article about me)
- “Learning the hard way that there is an art to medicine,” KevinMD.com, September 2011
- “Fighting Cancer, Finding a Career,” Balanced Body COREterly e-Newsletter, July 2011
Great article. I was DX’d with NET IC in 2008. Whipple. Subsequent RFA and most recently a liver resection. Many of your details are similar to my own journey. Not sure if you know, but there is a small community of NETS who trade information on the disease at yahoogroups.com to NET_ISLETCELL
We’d love to have you join us. We are all trying to get the word out…and live well. : )
Thanks Stephen. You’ve had a crazy ride the past few years, huh? I hope you’re feeling well now. I’ll check out the yahoo group. Thanks for the invite.
My daughter Christina Bowden in New Jersey has this neuroendocrine carcinoma stage 4, PNET.
We are trying to find doctors, institutions, hospitals, clinics that deal in the unusual and not the conventional. Is there an oncologist such as this that you can direct me to?
Thank you so very much. Anna Goodwin
Hi Anna,
Sorry to hear about your daughter. There are a couple fabulous cancer centers on the east coast that specialize in neuroendocrine cancer, Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Both centers have a number of doctors that your daughter could see. She’ll be in good hands.
Best wishes,
Tracy
[...] her journey in her blog, I Have Cancer. And I’ve Never Felt Better. Be sure to visit the “About Me” section and read the articles that have been written by and about [...]
[...] about her journey in her blog, I Have Cancer. And I’ve Never Felt Better. Be sure to visit the “About Me” section and read the articles that have been written by and about Tracy. She’s a very gifted [...]
Love your blog, especially the title. I was diagnosed with carcinoid tumor almost exactly one year ago. Bicycling is one of the activities that I do to keep fit and I love it.
You are a better writer than I, but, I also have a survivor’s blog which is combined with blogging about music which I like and which I sometimes compose.
Keep riding!
Hi Cy –
Thanks so much! I checked out your blog, and it’s fabulous. I love that you ride as well. I’ve become addicted to hill climbing, because I couldn’t do it before when I was so sick, and now each time I reach the top of a hill I feel incredible. Maybe gasping for air, but incredible!
Are you close to any of the Livestrong Challenge rides? You’d have the time of your life if you could get to one.
Back atcha on the “Keep Riding!
Tracy
Before I was diagnosed, I did the Ride for the Roses a couple of times and it was good. I will check out what’s in the area. As you can tell from my blog, I am just getting back into shape.
Wow. I’m jealous. We were hoping to do the Austin ride this year, but we have a scheduling conflict. It’ll be 5 years since my diagnosis, so we wanted to celebrate in style. We’ll settle for Philly and ride the full 100 this year. Should be a great time. I look forward to following your cycling adventures.
If you like climbing and you have time to ride 6 or 7 days in a row, I suggest Ride the Rockies (ridetherockies.com) or Bicycle Tour of Colorado (www.bicycletourcolorado.com). They both do 400 to 500 miles in the Rockies of Colorado in 7 days. They ordinarily cross at least one 9000 to 10000 foot pass every day.
Until 5 years ago, I had been on Ride the Rockies 4 times. It’s really thrilling to top a 10,000 ft pass on an 80 or 100 mile ride one day. It’s very tiring to do it several days in a row.