- The supermodel, 70, revealed she underwent surgery after doctors found a ‘basal cell carcinoma’ on her face
- She also shared graphic images of the scar on her face after the cancer was removed – as she urged fans to check their bodies regularly for abnormalities
- The star was diagnosed with cancer after accompanying one of her daughters for a check-up – where she asked a doctor to examine a ‘little dot’ on her face
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Christie Brinkley has been diagnosed with skin cancer.
The supermodel, 70, revealed she underwent surgery after doctors found a ‘basal cell carcinoma’ on her face in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Wednesday.
She also shared graphic images of the wound on her face after the cancer was removed – as she urged fans to check their bodies regularly for any abnormalities.
She wrote: ‘The good news for me is that we caught the basal cell carcinoma early. And I had amazing doctors who removed the cancer and stitched me to perfection like a haute couture Dior.
‘The good news for you is that all of this can be avoided by being diligent about your sun protection! I got serious a bit late, so now for this old mermaid/gardener, I’ll be slathering on my SPF 30, reapplying as needed, wearing long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat.
Christie Brinkley has been diagnosed with skin cancer at the age of 70
The supermodel, 70, revealed she underwent surgery after doctors found a ‘basal cell carcinoma’ on her face in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Wednesday
The star revealed she was diagnosed with cancer after accompanying one of her daughters for a routine check-up – where she asked a doctor to examine a ‘small dot’ on her face.
She wrote: ‘And doing regular total-body check-ups is a MUST.. it’s a MUST! I was lucky to find mine because I accompanied one of my daughters to her checkup..
‘The doctor looked at each freckle with a magnifying glass… it wasn’t my deal so I didn’t want to say anything, but finally I asked if he could just look at a tiny tiny dot I could feel while applying my foundation.
‘He looked and knew straight away that a biopsy was needed! He did it then and there! So make your own luck by making that control agreement today. And throw my friends!
‘Thanks to Dr. Abraham, Dr. Anolik, Dr. Geronemus, Dr. Lloyd Hoffman at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center in New York.’
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer.
Non-melanoma means it does not involve skin pigment cells. BCC often appears as scabs that bleed
BCC accounts for more than 80 per cent of all skin cancers in the UK and US.
About 5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the US and about 100,000 in the UK.
It is mainly caused by overexposure to UV light from the sun or tanning beds.
BCC can occur anywhere on the body, but is most common on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck and ears.
She also shared graphic images of the scar on her face after the cancer was removed – as she urged fans to check their bodies regularly for any abnormalities
Brinkley turned 70 last month and said using sunscreen keeps her looking young
WHAT IS BASAL CELL CARCINOMA?
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer.
Non-melanoma means it does not involve skin pigment cells.
BCC often appears as scabs that bleed
BCC accounts for more than 80 per cent of all skin cancers in the UK and US.
About 5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the US and about 100,000 in the UK.
It is mainly caused by overexposure to UV light from the sun or tanning beds.
BCC can occur anywhere on the body, but is most common on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck and ears.
The following people are most at risk:
- People with fair skin or hair
- Those who work outdoors
- People using sunbeds
- Those with a personal history of the condition
BCC is usually painless. Early symptoms often include only a scab that occasionally bleeds and does not heal.
Some appear as flat, red, scaly marks or have a pearl-like border. The latter can then erode into an ulcer.
Others are lumpy with shiny nodules criss-crossed by blood vessels.
Most BCCs can be cured, but treatment is complex if left for a long time.
Treatment usually involves removing the cancerous tumor and some of the surrounding skin.
Source: British Skin Foundation and NHS choice