Tracy Ruckman

Today is an exciting day in so many aspects. As this blog post goes live, I am on my way to my final Herceptin infusion - the end of a very long year of chemotherapy, radiation, and Herceptin infusions, plus all the procedures and doc visits that go along with it! [SEE UPDATE BELOW!] Today is also LAUNCH DAY for two new books: The Pink Pages: A Practical A-Z Guide for Your Breast Cancer Journey is available in paperback and Kindle formats . and Days to Remember: A Journal for Your Cancer Journey is available in paperback . (The journal works for patients with any type of cancer.) A portion of the proceeds from the sales of these books will be donated to the Cancer Navigators and the Komen Foundation. Both organizations were extremely helpful to me during my journey, so I’m grateful to return the favor. At the end of this journey, the one emotion that stands out above all else is one of gratitude. I’m so grateful to God for allowing me to survive this journey. I’m so grateful that He ga...

Years ago, before we hit the road, we had some incredible neighbors that we’ve kept up with over the years. In 2022, their youngest son Elias was diagnosed with cancer. I’ve asked mom Kelsey to share their story with us. First, introduce us to your family: Elias, center front; then l-r: big brother Ayden, parents Ryan and Kelsey I am Kelsey and Ryan is my handsome hubby! We have 5 kids together and 4 grandboys! Elias is 8 and Ayden is 11. Their older sisters all live on their own. Emily is 26 and has Eli, Evan, Easton, and Everett. Cara is 25, and Kourtney is 22. How old was Elias when he received the cancer diagnosis? What kind of cancer did he have? Elias was in kindergarten and had just turned 6 when he was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in January of 2022. We started noticing little signs at first, like pale skin, bruising more than normal and no weight gain. He would complain of leg pain frequently, and then stomach pain quite often. He was playing rec league...

I’m excited to announce that The Pink Pages has gone to press, with an official release date of May 31, 2024 for both paperback and Kindle versions. Pre-orders are available now on Kindle .  I wrote The Pink Pages to help anyone going through a breast cancer diagnosis, because the journey can be a bit overwhelming. The book includes my own cancer journal, an A-Z guide so readers can look for information quickly, my cancer timeline, and lists of medications, side effects, and resources.  I also include the recipe for my “Crazy Soup” that helped me get through chemo. Giving Back A portion of the proceeds from all sales will be donated to the Cancer Navigators and to the Komen Foundation - both groups helped me navigate my own cancer journey, and I’ve seen the help they’ve offered other patients, so I’m grateful to have the opportunity to give back. Early Reviews of The Pink Pages: Before going to press, the book was sent to beta readers for their feedback. Here are some of thei...