Ariel Meredith Opens Up About Breast Cancer Journey in Hopes of Helping Others

The five-time SI Swimsuit model is battling Stage 2B triple-negative breast cancer.

Ariel Meredith.Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes. Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common skin cancer among women. For more information and ways to support, click here.

Ariel Meredith is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her fourth child, a boy, due later this month. The five-time SI Swimsuit model and mom of three is also battling Stage 2B triple-negative breast cancer.

Earlier this year, when Meredith was about a month and a half into her pregnancy, she felt a knot in one of her breasts that she says “just didn’t feel normal.” She immediately went to her doctor and got a biopsy.

“I found out about the diagnosis for breast cancer on March 23rd of this year,” Meredith says. “You never think that you’re going to get that positive result or that phone call to tell you, ‘Hey, by the way, that came back positive, the biopsy.’ And then also knowing at that time that I was also pregnant, I just didn't know what lied ahead.”

Diagnosis and treatment

While Meredith, who was 38 at the time of her diagnosis, was initially overwhelmed by the shocking news, she leaned on her faith, her husband, former football wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, and her three young children: Amir, Aveila and Eliana.

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A post shared by Ariel Meredith Nicks (@1arielmeredith)

After receiving her breast cancer diagnosis, Meredith began chemotherapy. She’s done two cycles thus far and is taking a break from treatments leading up to giving birth later this month. After she delivers her baby boy, Meredith will have a lumpectomy followed by radiation, and depending on her pathology report, possibly more chemotherapy.

“Fighting breast cancer in my shoes while pregnant, it’s like a strength I just didn’t know I had,” Meredith admits. “I knew I was always strong, but I didn’t know I was going to have to be this strong fighting cancer and fighting for my unborn child.”

Taking charge of her health

When she first felt something was off, Meredith wasted no time taking charge of her health, and she hopes to inspire other women to do the same. She recommends routine breast self-exams at home and staying up-to-date with routinely scheduled mammograms.

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A post shared by Ariel Meredith Nicks (@1arielmeredith)

“Sometimes you may not even feel anything. Some women don’t,” Meredith shares. “Just stay in tune with your body. If something feels a little weird, don’t wait. Go get it checked out.”

Going back to gratitude

While Meredith says that losing her hair throughout the process has been tough, it’s provided her a unique perspective on gratitude. She also has an incredible support system in her loved ones to help her through.

“My husband and my kids, they’ve just been tremendous and so supportive throughout,” she shares. “My kids constantly are kissing my head like, ‘Mommy, it’s growing back!’ And they don’t even realize the positive affirmations that they’re unknowingly speaking over me, which keeps me going, keeps me fighting.”

Meredith first posed for the SI Swimsuit Issue in 2009, when she traveled to Mexico with Matt Jones. She returned to the fold in 2012 and each year thereafter through ’15.

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