Ariana Madix Celebrates One Year of Being Cancer-Free

It's been one year since Vanderpump Rules cast member Ariana Madix underwent cancer removal surgery for melanoma.

Ariana reflected on her diagnosis and surgery in an Instagram post on November 4, alongside a video of her in the hospital, taken by her longtime love Tom Sandoval.

"[I’ve] been debating posting this for so long but whatever! i’m doing it. officially the spookiest thing i’ve ever experienced! a year ago, i wasnt able to celebrate my favorite holiday bc i had just undergone surgery for melanoma. being told that cancer was living rent free on my body for years was scarier than any 80s slasher movie. thankfully, i had an amazing doctor, the amazing [Tom Sandoval] to take care of me, and (as you can see) the [Kim Petras] [TOTL} album to keep me positive!" Ariana wrote.

She concluded her post with a little advice for followers: "[M]oral of the story: if you’re unsure of something on your body, GET CHECKED and then GET CHECKED AGAIN!"

Ariana revealed that she had been diagnosed with skin cancer in an Instagram post in late 2018. She elaborated on the experience during an appearance on ET Live, sharing that after years of asking about a mole, she finally had it tested and discovered it was melanoma. She then explained that since the mole was close to lymph nodes, "Then I had to go for a real surgery. And have a giant chunk [removed]. I have a scar I can show you, it's pretty gnarly — and then I have one [scar] down here in my underarm area."

She noted that she has a standing appointment every six months in which she will see a specialist to "make sure I'm top of everything. Once you have it, it's much easier to have it again or have it throughout your life, especially that I'm young. It's going to be an ongoing thing, but right now I do not have cancer in my body."