Survivor: Lucky to be alive while using trial cancer drug

While a visit to the dentist for Tracy Granquist to remove something on the inside her mouth seemed so simple, it turned into a frightening discovery followed by a miraculous outcome.

In August 2023, Granquist discovered a spot on her right jaw. She had a regular cleaning appointment scheduled with her dentist, but she quickly learned that he didn’t like what he saw at all.

“I thought they would just cut it out and I’d be on my way,” said Granquist. But it wasn’t quite that easy. After testing, she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer. It usually not life-threatening.

Still thinking it wasn’t very serious, Granquist soon learned that it would be a life-changing experience where she feels fortunate to be alive.

Within three months, she had the lower right side of the jaw removed and replaced with leg bones. The treatment led to skin grafts, a tracheostomy, feeding tubes, chemotherapy and radiation.

As she was recovering from chemotherapy, doctors found another lump on the other side. The aggressive cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, which is what made things as drastic as they were. “It had spread like wildfire,” Granquist said, noting the growth led to 30% of her windpipe being cut off. She was discovered as having the HRAS mutation. “Many people have skin cancer, but what made it rare are the tumors that spread,” she said.

Granquist ended up having more radiation. “It was a last-ditch effort to get the tumor under control,” she said.

Doctors pulled out all the stops to get Granquist’s cancer under control, but they weren’t having very much success. In fact, things were looking very bleak for her prognosis.

That’s until Granquist’s oncologist found a trial drug that hasn’t even been approved yet by the FDA. With no real other options available, she took the experimental drug in early May. And what has happened since is nothing short of a miracle.

“I went in for scan on July 3 and it was clear,” said Granquist. That’s as in clear of no cancer being detected in her body. “They are in shock of what happened,” she said referring to her doctors. “Other treatments were not working, and now the tumors are gone and there is no sign of cancer.”

Her cancer is “very rare” as there have been less than 100 cases documented across the country. She said they need at least 500 people with the cancer to get the drug approved by the FDA. “They can’t find enough people for this study to get approved,” she said.

Asked where she would be right now without the drug treatment, Granquist said, “In a hospital bed or underground.”

Her husband, Lance, puts it more direct.

Fighting back tears, Granquist said, “My husband tells me all the time that I shouldn’t be here right now.”

Instead on Monday, she was enjoying a “girls’ trip” to Florida. “It has been so emotional because I didn’t think I would be able to go,” she said.

While Granquist is not currently battling any side effects, she is dealing with cosmetic issues. She still doesn’t have the teeth that were removed. They won’t be able to do surgery until she is off the drug, which at this point is unknown as to how long it will be.

She said this cancer battle has taught her “to appreciate everything I have.”

Granquist feels fortunate to be allowed to work remotely from home for Federated Insurance.

Besides her own personal fight with cancer, Granquist has lost both of her parents to cancer within the past five years.

Granquist has been chosen as the honorary chair for this year’s Steele-Waseca Relay for Life, which takes place Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Steele County Fairgrounds. Her husband and their children, Abbie and Logan, plan to join her at the relay. She said the event has always been “a big part of my life.”

Earlier this year, she was one of three recipients for the From the Heart charity run that provides support to families experiencing cancer. There was also a benefit for the family in April.

“I couldn’t have felt more supported by Owatonna,” she said. “The support has been overwhelming.”