Meet Ariella: Captain of Team Natural Killer Cells in the Answer to Cancer 5K Survivors Walk

Since my diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma in 2010, I’ve received 14 different treatments to manage my disease. Only one, an immunotherapy drug called nivolumab, significantly reduced my tumors and helped me regain my independence. That’s why I’m leading Team Natural Killer Cells in the Cancer Research Institute Answer to Cancer 5K Survivors Walk—I want to support research that I know has the potential to save lives.

Nivolumab wasn’t like the other drugs I had been treated with before. I didn’t experience any fatigue; I wasn’t watching my hair fall out bit by bit. For the first time in a long time, I was able to start taking caring of myself.

Immunotherapy research made that drug, among other lifesaving treatments, possible for patients like me. But we’re not done yet. While immunotherapies have already begun to change the way the medical community treats this disease, more research is necessary if we want to find cures for all cancers.

I’m leading this team in hopes that other patients, either those who have been treated with immunotherapy or who believe in its potential, will be a part of the Answer to Cancer. My goal is to raise $250, 100% of which will support the kind of research that saved my life.

Will you join me?

Learn more about Ariella and her journey with Hodgkin lymphoma.