Celebration

/ Dr. Lee Bryant

I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma under my thumbnail on July 21, 2021. The type of melanoma I had is called acral subungual melanoma, and it is quite deadly. Based on my pathology, with deep invasion, ulceration, and high mitotic activity, my tumor was felt to be very high risk and to behave like a stage 3 tumor. I had a 60 percent chance of surviving one year and a 40 percent chance of surviving 3 years. For those of you who have been following my cancer journey, you know that I am a surgeon. If you go back to the beginning, the very first blog post in 2021, you can read about my roundabout pathway to obtaining a diagnosis, and the absolutely true story of how I operated on myself to make the diagnosis. I then became a patient and began documenting my journey in this blog. After undergoing additional surgery, which included further amputation of half of my thumb and sentinel axillary node biopsies, I completed a yearlong treatment plan of chemoimmunotherapy infusions. I had my last infusion on June 29, 2022. This blog recounts my story with a focus on a surgeon who became a patient. It recounts my journey to adapt and regain my operative skills having lost part of a thumb in my dominant hand. It also highlights melanoma awareness. Additionally, it explores the intersection of medicine and faith.

The great news is that I am now exactly 5 years out from diagnosis and remain cancer free. My scans recently in May, 2026 (right hand and arm, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis) revealed no evidence of any recurrent cancer! There are a couple of cysts in my neck felt to be unrelated to my cancer and are being monitored. My next and final round of scans will be later this year in November. Given the odds stated above, I am blessed to have survived 5 years. With acral melanoma, many succumb to the cancer early in the course. For those of us who make it 5 years, the prognosis gets much better, with much fewer late recurrences.

Again, I am remiss in waiting so long to update my blog. I look back on the past 5 years and did not realize how much weight and stress I carried knowing the cancer could reappear and how I could lose the battle at any time. Having reached the 5 year mark, I really feel the weight lifted.

I continue to have good balance in my life, something I really didn’t have before my cancer diagnosis. I prioritize spending time with God. So many times you can feel the providential moments He shares with us if you just slow down and listen. The most joyful times of my week, and for my wife Kellee, are times spent worshipping and serving at our church, Brook Hollow Baptist. Spending time with family is the next priority. I usually golf with my 84 year old Dad at least once a week. We have the best time. And I have the pleasure of spending time with my 5 grandchildren, the most recent addition being Grady Lee Bryant, IV. I am so blessed that all 4 generations of “Grady’s” get to be together regularly. I prioritize sleep, which is an important factor in battling cancer. I am stay fairly physically fit with a combination of both exercise and working outside in the yard or at our farm. And of course, I continue to stay busy taking care of patients.

So it is a season of celebration! To celebrate the 5 year mark, I asked my kids to bring themselves and all the grandkids on a vacation together! So here I am, writing these words, on a flight to Copenhagen, Denmark, from whence we will embark on a Baltic Sea cruise. Kellee and I are accompanied by Alex and Brad, with their three kids, Bradley (7), Jack (5), and Caroline (3), and by Gray and Molly, with their 2 kids, Hanna Grace (2), and Grady IV (7 months). I feel blessed beyond measure. Thank you God for restoring me. I promise to be obedient and to keep sharing this testimony you have given me. Blessings to all of you who have been following my journey!

Lina, ready for our long flight.
Hanna Grace is ready also!
Bradley is too!

Grady Sr. and Grady Jr. Golfing buddies!

26 thoughts on “Celebration”

  2. The five year mark is reason for celebration! I know you and the entire family will enjoy the beauty of the countries you visit. Thank you for fighting to be here for all of us. You are such an inspiration to everyone and I

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  4. Heartfelt congratulations, Lee! I’m so happy for you and Kellee and your children. I read your blog as you wrote it, with much interest and respect for your writing skills as well as the story you told.

    I am READING your words onboard a ship docked in Helsinki as we await our imminent departure to continue OUR Baltic cruise. Sadly, not with our family but with good friends of 40 years and when we embarked a few days ago and I saw our other shipmates I told David “well, we clearly ARE of cruising age now!”

    We began in Stockholm and will end in Copenhagen. It has been a delight so far, days in the mid-70s with sunny blue skies. Everyone in the places we visit is friendly, and it is refreshing to get away. As you know the summer days here are LONG, with light in the sky past 10 pm and again before 4 am. I hope your grandchildren don’t mind going to sleep while it is still “daytime!”

    May you enjoy a wonderful, happy and memorable time with your extended family.

    And congratulations.

    XO,

    Beth and David

    Get Outlook for iOShttps://aka.ms/o0ukef ________________________________

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  7. Dr Bryant, thank you for sharing your good news! I am so happy for you and your family. You have always been an inspiration to me during my difficult days. I continue to pray for God to bless you and your family and never put off spending time with them. It is time we will never get back. Have a wonderful vacation and take lots of pictures. God Bless, Linda Smith

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  9. What a wonderful reason to celebrate! God is good all the time!
    Your story is an inspiration for many reasons, thank you for sharing.
    Our community has been blessed to have you for many years. Thanking God for that continued blessing.
    Enjoy for vacation to the fullest with that precious family!

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  10. Lee – I tried to respond on your blog, but it seemed to have an issue on my end. So I just hope this doesn’t interrupt your holiday. Thanks so much for sharing your story. And some people do not believe God answers prayer. Your story will touch many people who need a positive story with a blessed ending. That is your contribution to the story, and it is a powerful one indeed.

    Holly and I send our love to you and the family. As we say in CO, “The latch string is on the outside of the door.” If you don’t know what that means, let me know, and I will translate it into Tennessee English!

    Blessings, and I pray you have a great holiday

    Ben and Holly

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    • Ben and Holly, it came through! Our cell service was spotty in Copenhagen today! Thanks for the kind words. There is no doubt the Holy Spirit told me to biopsy my own finger. I have felt His presence.

      It has been too long. We need to come skiing and see you guys! God Bless!

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  12. thanks be to God for his immeasurable gifts… thankful your course of treatment has been successful and kept that cancer demon at bay. Prayers for continued health

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  13. Great news, enjoy your time with your family, you deserve it. Thanks again for checking Dower’s nose, we are blessed to have you as our doctor. Continued prayers,The RussellsSent from my iPadOn Jul 17, 2026,

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