My name is Anna. I am 26 years old and I live in Salt Lake City,Utah, although the mountains of Idaho are my home. Last year, I noticed an unusual bump growing on my upper arm. Subsequently, I spent months trying to find out what it was. After a series of confusing and inconclusive appointments with various specialists, a simple ultrasound-guided biopsy revealed that the bump contained cancer cells. In early February 2023, the doctor who ordered the biopsy connected me with a team of oncologists who diagnosed me with metastatic melanoma.
While I feel incredibly lucky to be receiving high quality treatment close to home and to have a committed team of caretakers, the past few months have been extremely challenging. In addition to being a cancer patient, I am a graduate student in my final semester of law school at the University of Utah. At the start of the year, I thought that this spring would be a joyful time where I could calmly wrap up my studies, make memories with friends, and look forward to post-grad life. My diagnosis denied these expectations in the most disorienting and frustrating way.
Anna’s LifeList:
- Two tickets to the Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour