Tracy Martin had no idea anything was wrong. He didn’t feel sick. He hadn’t slowed down. The only thing he noticed was an occasional stomach gurgle, which he brushed off as hunger. But a routine primary care visit — and a provider who paid attention to the details — set off a chain of events that ultimately saved his life.

One checkup. One provider. One life changed. 

Tracy visited nurse practitioner Jade James for a routine follow-up appointment when bloodwork from that visit showed an elevated liver enzyme. As Jade reviewed his earlier lab results, she noticed the same pattern had appeared before. While the numbers weren’t alarming at first, the consistent trend raised concern. By his next visit, the levels had climbed even higher. Jade ordered a liver ultrasound to take a closer look, which revealed something unusual. A follow-up CT scan didn’t show a liver problem, but it did uncover something unexpected: a suspicious mass in his intestines.

Jade quickly referred Tracy to a gastroenterologist, who performed a colonoscopy and found a large mass in his colon. Further tests determined it was a low-grade neuroendocrine tumor — a slow-growing type of cancer.
Martin was referred to an oncologist and surgeon. He had the tumor removed on April 12, and at his follow-up visit just 10 days later, he got the best news — doctors had removed all the cancer and he wouldn’t need chemotherapy.

Living Life Wide Open

Now, Tracy is back working full-time and enjoying spending time with his wife Amanda, children and grandchildren. Despite the challenges he has faced, Tracy remains upbeat and active.

He also hasn’t given up on his passion: dirt track racing. “I’ve been doing it since 2008,” he said. “When I met Amanda, we were at the racetrack. I told her I wished I could afford one of those cars. She said, ‘You can.’ So, I found a way to make it happen, and I’ve been racing ever since.”

He also sees Jade for regular follow-up appointments. "If it hadn't been for her, I might not be here today," he says. "She's my angel."

A Relationship That Makes All the Difference

Tracy hopes his story encourages others — especially men — not to skip their routine screenings. He never imagined a regular appointment would uncover something so serious, but he’s thankful it did.

“I trust her,” Tracy said. “If she thinks something’s wrong, we’re going to check it out.”

Having a trusted primary care provider means having someone who sees the whole picture — someone who can spot subtle changes before they become serious. It’s about more than treating symptoms. It’s about building a relationship that keeps you well for the long run.

Thanks to a provider who listened and acted quickly, Tracy is living life wide open — on and off the track.