Some of you may know that I was diagnosed with stage 3C melanoma in May of 2022. After three pretty painful surgeries and a year of immunotherapy that included a bad reaction to treatment (Long story, but I lost 45 lb in a month as a result-(I gained it all back) I have been cancer-free. Immunotherapy was so amazing that after the first 3 months there was no evidence of disease from the scans, and when I had the surgeries to remove all the lymph nodes, including the two that were infected, there was no cancer in any of the lymph nodes.

If my scans are clear today will mark 2 years of being (NED) no evidence of disease, and then my surveillance scans will then be every 6 months rather than every 3 months.

I was wearing BYU gear when I was originally diagnosed. I think I had a hat on. My oncologist who is also a big BYU fan mentioned them just getting into the Big 12. I told him that if I died before I got to see them play in a major conference I would have a bone to pick with God (I was joking of course, kinda). We all laughed.

But, last year when I was visiting him every 3 months we would talk BYU football just for a second. And now the fact that I get to be here for what could be another magical season makes me even more grateful for what I have.

But on top of that I'm still here and was able to hold my first granddaughter who was born in August.

I have no reason to worry, but anybody that has dealt with cancer knows about scanningxiety. But I fully expect my scans to be clear again today. But if you're the praying type please include old Arielle in your prayers.