canceer journey

Celebration

/ Dr. Lee Bryant / 26 Comments

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!

Melanoma Update

/ Dr. Lee Bryant / 24 Comments

I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma under my thumbnail on July 21, 2021.  For those of you who have been following my cancer journey, you know that I am a surgeon who became at patient and then documented my journey in this blog.  After undergoing surgery, I completed a yearlong treatment plan of chemoimmunotherapy infusions, having completed my last infusion on June 29, 2022. This blog recounts my story with a focus on a surgeon who became a patient, melanoma awareness, and the intersection of medicine and faith.

This blog was started to keep my patients informed of my progress. As I have continued to feel better, my surgical practice has ramped back up to normal. And I have taken on some additional work responsibilities. I was elected as the Secretary of the Private Practice Section of the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery.

But as is typical of any major health crisis or really any major life crisis that effects behavioral changes for the better in our lives, it is easy to get busy with work and fall back into old habits. I have not been updating my blog lately, but plan to keep it more updated. Also, when one feels better physically and spiritually, it is easy to drift into old habits. I teach a young adult group in our home on Sunday nights. I always tell my group that you never drift into good habits, only bad ones. Anything you do to improve yourself is intentional, not something into which you drift. So in this new year of 2024, I have tried to refocus on wellness to help my body continue to battle this melanoma. I have been intentional on getting enough sleep. I have been working out more regularly and giving up sweets. Lastly, during the Lenten season, I have tried to refocus spiritually.

Things we can control such as our sleep pattern, our diet, our exercise pattern, our stress level, and our spirituality can work together to reduce chronic inflammation in our bodies. As I have mentioned in earlier blogs, science has shown that chronic inflammation in the body aids and abets tumor biology, helping tumors either develop or progress more rapidly. Some of the inflammation caused by tumors is from genetic mutations and intrinsic factors of the tumors beyond our control. But a lot of extrinsic factors can also cause chronic inflammation such as chronic infections, an inflammatory diet high in sugar, autoimmune diseases, obesity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption.

My last two rounds of laboratory work up and extensive imaging were in May and November of 2023. They revealed that I continue to have no evidence of recurrent melanoma cancer. Because of the stage of my melanoma and the tumor biology (acral type with high mitosis and ulceration), I remain at very high risk for recurrence. My type of melanoma tends to be very aggressive and many do not survive the first three years. However, the risk for this type of melanoma is more “front loaded,” meaning that as time goes on, my risk starts to drop. I have another round of imaging on May 2, 2024. I am praying for continued good news, because that is near the three year mark, when my risk begins to drop some, and my prognosis improves.

I am planning a big celebration that weekend if all is good…more on that later. I pledge to keep all those who are following more informed! And let’s all focus on wellness. Let me know if you want me to start writing about more specifics.

Lastly, for those in the Nashville, Tennessee, area and beyond, feel free to tune in to Morningline with Nick Beres on Monday, March 18, as we do a one hour live show discussing Springtime allergies and impact on our health. (https://www.newschannel5.com/plus/morningline)

I appreciate all the love and support!