Survivor Series: Traci Weber-Retherford

To this day, even as she is in remission from colon cancer, Traci Weber-Retherford emphasizes the importance of sticking to routine checkups. It was during a routine medical appointment that her cancer was discovered.

“When the doctor first suspected cancer, I kept thinking that it was likely a false positive,” Weber-Retherford said. “Still, I was panicking a little bit and immediately got a colonoscopy done to confirm.”

When it was confidently confirmed from the colonoscopy that she had cancer, Weber-Retherford broke down into tears.

“As tears rolled down my face, my first thoughts were really a series of questions,” she said. “I was thinking, ‘‘What do I do? Where do I go? How do we start this? What does the medical team know? What’s the next step?’”

Throughout the cancer treatment process and diagnosis, her confidence in the capability of the doctors never waver.

“Northwest Cancer Center was wonderful,” Weber-Retherford said. “My main doctor acted immediately to order blood tests and other tests through Northwest Cancer Center, and everyone was amazing. The tests were ordered and completed within a two-week timeframe so I could immediately go into surgery.”

The additional tests included an MRI and a scope to confirm the positioning of the tumor. Doctors had to determine if it was high enough in the colon to do surgery or if they needed to do radiation.

Ultimately, it was determined that the tumor was operable.

“I had surgery within four weeks to remove the tumor, and they successfully did reconstructive surgery,” said Weber-Retherford. “They also took out 30 lymph nodes at the time, and they found cancer cells in one of those lymph nodes, so it sent me from a stage one to a stage three immediately.”

After finding the cancer in the lymph nodes, Weber-Retherford was scheduled for a series of chemotherapy. The chemo started in January 2025, and completed in July 2025.

“I just hit my one year mark of no signs of cancer, but I need to continue to monitor for five years to be out of remission,” Weber-Retherford said. “Right now, I am checked for cancer every three months. I live my life in three-month windows, because I never know if the cancer will come back. After two years, it will increase to cancer scans every six months, and I’m sure I’ll get even more nervous.”

Through her journey battling cancer, Weber-Retherford has continued to have the support of her family, friends, and even her workplace.

“You have to be your own advocate,” Weber-Retherford said. “You have to keep fighting and surround yourself with as much support as you can.”

While taking care of yourself to monitor for cancer, it’s also important to encourage others to do the same.

“Cancer sucks, and we have to be advocates for one another and each others’ health,” said Weber-Retherford. 

Weber-Retherford continues her routine cancer scans and fights concerns of the cancer coming back. Nevertheless, she is in good spirits. Today, she is focused on healing and returning to total health.