Emmy-nominated TV editor Tracy Bacenas beats rare pelvic cancer with custom 3D implant at Ottawa Hospital
A Survivor and Amazing Race editor treated for chondrosarcoma underwent a 16-hour surgery in February with a silver-coated implant designed specifically to her anatomy.
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Tracy Bacenas, a two-time Emmy-nominated television editor who has worked on Survivor, The Amazing Race, and The Bachelor, has beaten a rare and aggressive bone cancer using a custom 3D-printed pelvic implant designed at The Ottawa Hospital.
Bacenas moved to Ottawa with her Canadian husband and raised twin sons here while continuing to work remotely for Los Angeles television production. In 2023, she developed persistent hip pain that her family doctor initially suspected was bursitis. An X-ray raised a red flag: "chondrosarcoma can't be ruled out." The diagnosis was confirmed — a rare, malignant tumour in her pelvis extending into the hip joint.
The surgical challenge was severe. Removing the tumour meant removing a significant portion of the pelvis and hip joint itself. On February 12, 2024, Bacenas underwent a 16-hour surgery led by a multidisciplinary team at The Ottawa Hospital. Surgeons placed a porous-metal implant, silver-coated to reduce infection risk and customized to her exact anatomy using CT scans, MRIs, and specialized planning software.
Dr. Joel Werier, head of The Ottawa Hospital's Sarcoma Program and an orthopaedic oncologist, said the custom design was critical to success. "The guides created during the design process help ensure the implant fits exactly as planned. In Tracy's case, the fit was perfect," Werier said. The porous metal allows Bacenas's own bone to integrate over time, gradually restoring the hip joint's function.
Historically, surgeries of this type left patients with significant mobility limitations. Bacenas has returned to an active life — playing sports with her sons, running, and walking many kilometres daily, much as she did before diagnosis. The technology represents a major advancement in reconstructive surgery for bone cancers.
The facts
What type of cancer did Tracy Bacenas have?
Bacenas had chondrosarcoma, a rare and aggressive malignant tumour in her pelvis that extended into her hip joint.
When did Bacenas have surgery at The Ottawa Hospital?
Bacenas underwent a 16-hour surgery on February 12, 2024.
What made Bacenas's implant special?
The porous-metal implant was custom 3D-printed to fit her exact anatomy using CT scans, MRIs, and specialized planning software, and it was silver-coated to reduce infection risk.
How has Bacenas recovered since the surgery?
Bacenas has returned to an active life, playing sports with her sons, running, and walking many kilometres daily — abilities she had before her diagnosis.
