By Steve Shay

Some simply refer to her as "Team Tracy" because her friends will say she fills the room with positive vibes and good spirit. Tracy Dart, 35, who was born and raised near the Alaska Junction, has been battling breast cancer for two years and her "team," now 21 strong, fundraises and walks the annual 60-mile, three-day Susan G. Koman Race For The Cure. Dart can be spotted in a pink cowboy hat in a booth outside West 5 Lounge raising money, the Feedback Lounge cheering on Rock n' Roll Trivia players, or kicking back at Pioneer Coffee on Alki near her current home. Of course if there is a fundraising walk, and there are more than just the Koman Race, then that's where she may be found.

"You go through a lot of shoes doing these walks," said Dart, who trains in Lincoln Park and on Alki. Dart is the former manager at Cherry Consignment Fashion Boutique and is taking time off during her current treatment. "I've tried so hard to find a good reason why I had to go through this, why has this happened to me, and why I am now having to go through this a second time," she said. "All I can think of is that I am meant to get out and spread the word that breast cancer doesn't just effect older women. We all have to be diligent about self-breast exams and going in for mammograms. If it runs in families we have to get on top of it sooner."

Tracy's aunt, her mother's sister LaVerne Patterson, lost her battle with breast cancer at age 55 in 1995. Dart dove into the Komen walk in 2006 for her aunt, as she was not diagnosed for another two years. She planned to walk in 2008, again for her aunt, when the disease struck her.

"I was diagnosed May, 2008, when I was 33," said Dart. "I've gone through this twice. I had a lumpectomy and started with radiation and then did the oral form of chemotherapy. It comes in a pill. My blood work and tests all came back clear after that, for about eight months. Then last April I did one of my monthly checkups and the doctor found something. I got another lumpectomy and started radiation. I just started IV chemotherapy, which has stronger side effects than the pills. This time of course my hair has fallen out and I am more fatigued, kind of like I have a flu, with cold and hot flashes following the treatment. It's no fun. Again, I figure this is what I have to do and I'll do it."

She acknowledge that some in her position would consider a double mastectomy, possibly with reconstructive surgery.

"It's a very private decision, and also depends on what insurance you have. I don't have the best insurance, but I have it. It's a huge problem that many people don't get tested because they don't have insurance.

"You see the pink ribbon on everything, and people talk about breast cancer more than they used to, but I still think self-breast exams are considered a taboo," she said. "I have great girlfriends who have watched me go through this whole thing and still admit to me that they don't do self-breast exams. They shouldn't be ashamed of doing it. It's normal and should happen. Unfortunately, young people are diagnosed with high stages of breast cancer because they didn't catch it soon enough or ignored signs and should have gone in earlier. I see young people battling, literally fighting for their lives. A lot of that may have been avoided if had they caught it a few months earlier. When I was first diagnosed they said if I had waited another few months I would have had a drastically different outcome which is really scary to think about.

"The Susan G. Komen Foundation has had its hand in every new (breast cancer) drug and technology," Dart said. Their three-day race is Sept. 24-26 this year. "The new drugs do not have as many side effects. I think we're close to finding a cure. It's not a matter of 'if,' it's a matter of 'when.' I can say that in my lifetime it's going to happen. I have a lot of life to live. Hopefully they find a cure for one type of cancer, and then they'll find a cure for all cancer."

Dart attributes her positive attitude to West Seattle and her friends here. If you bump into Dart she may very well be with her two best friends, Jennifer Witsoe and Kimberly Tish. She calls them her "support system" and her "rock." They both walk with her on the Komen Runs and co-captain "Team-Tracy."

"I make a point of staying connected to people in West Seattle since I was born and grew up here," she said. "I am trying to turn a negative into a positive, which is the best thing you can do. When I go out and meet people I would rather 'bring up' somebody's day. My parents always taught me not to burn any bridges. I try to keep in contact with people from all parts of my life. I love bringing people together."

Tracy Dart asks that those interested in donating to Team-Tracy donate to the team members who have raised the least so far:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2010/SeattleEvent2010?px=1406152&pg=pers…

Two fundraisers coming up are: "Beer for Boobies" at Big Al's Brewery, Sat. July 10, 5pm-9:pm with band Four on the Floor.
Also, "Art for the Cure" at Kenyon Hall, Fri. July 30, 6pm - 9pm with art auction, music and raffle.