Tracy Frazzano Does Have True Grit

The Coastal Breeze News has chosen over the last month to highlight a number of women in our community who have chosen to speak about their personal battles against breast cancer. They come from all walks of life and have personal recollections regarding the many aspects of how they chose to deal with it.

Those who know Marco’s Police Chief, Tracy Frazzano, understand she has always been very competitive and athletic. From playing secondary school athletics and excelling in college athletics, she chose never to shy away from any challenge. The same would be true as she entered the previously male dominated profession of law enforcement.

Frazzano proved herself throughout her career in the Montclair, NJ, Police Department, rising to the position of Deputy Chief before being chosen for the top spot in the Marco Island Police Department two years ago. She quickly earned the respect of her peers here on the island and throughout Southwest Florida.

Frazzano would soon love all that Southwest Florida had to offer, and one day, while trying out wake boarding, she gave her knee a pretty good twist while out with friends. She knew she had twisted it pretty badly and, while grabbing herself around her chest, she discovered an abnormality under her armpit. When she reported it to her physician, she tried to discount it due to its location. Her doctor, however, insisted that it be examined, and the process began.

She went in to see her doctor on Friday, November 13, 2020, for results of the testing. True to her competitive nature, Frazzano prepared for the battle that lay before her.

Frazzano’s husband was in New Jersey readying their home for sale. Although he wanted to fly back immediately, she convinced him to finish what he was doing, as she and her doctor had not yet defined a course of treatment. The larger problem lay in telling her parents, but Frazzano’s older sister met with them personally, and then she spoke with them by phone.

Frazzano and her husband decided to undergo her treatment regimen here in Florida. She would undergo chemo, a double mastectomy and radiation. Until February, she will continue undergoing maintenance chemo as part of her treatment procedure.

Throughout her ordeal, Frazzano would complement her newly acquired network of friends, who almost immediately surrounded her and provided her the support system to ride out the toughest challenge of her life. “They provided a true team effort to help out in any way they could. I knew I could pick up the phone and any of them would be there,” said Frazzano. “This whole event has helped to change me and how to look at my life moving forward. I’ve allowed myself to mellow some and to recognize the important things in life.”

Because of the support she received and is still receiving from the community, Frazzano is more committed than ever to give back to the community. “I have a whole new family that has surrounded me here in Florida, in addition to my family in New Jersey. Our department family, city staff and the community have been so wonderful. It is such a wonderful feeling to know that they are here, and I am determined to excel at meeting their expectations every waking day,” said Frazzano.

“Every cancer survivor’s story is different. I really believe that they are the true heroes of the stories you guys tell. Having that network of people was a great support group, better than any doctor. They were wonderful. Being able to speak to them and get their input on a number of the things you go through is priceless.  Those people are wonderful as they speak to you and help to support you during your journey through this,” she said.

“I believe in prayer and the power of it. I am positive that prayer has helped me to overcome the challenges which we have faced during this last year, and I am thankful to everyone that helped and supported me during this,” said Frazzano.