Arrianna's Story

Arrianna
Age 15
Rhabdomyosarcoma

Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children

All Arrianna wants is to be a normal teenager, but her multiple fights with cancer have made her life anything but ordinary.

At age 7, Arrianna was first diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. The cancer first manifested itself as a tumor wrapped around her spine, which required surgery and 39 weeks of chemotherapy and 5 weeks of radiation treatments.

At age 11, the cancer reappeared. Six tumors were found from her head to her legs. She underwent another surgery and an additional 39 weeks of treatment.

In 2007, at age 13, two more tumors were found in her right upper leg. Arrianna triumphed through 42 weeks of treatment and surgery to remove 95 percent of the tumors.

Arrianna was initially given a 5 percent survival rate but has beat cancer three times. Although years of chemotherapy, radiation and major surgeries have left some lingering physical side effects, she is a bright young woman who exudes courage, confidence and the ultimate example of never giving up. Arrianna loves Anime, cooking and socializing with her friends at school.