Christie Brinkley revealed on Instagram that she was recently diagnosed with skin cancer. Through a series of posts, Christie walked her fans through every step of her treatment.
It all started with a visit to the doctor for an appointment that wasn’t even hers. She was there for her daughter, who had an appointment to see a doctor. Her daughter needed some moral support, and Christie joined to help comfort her.
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While the doctor was treating her daughter, he also looked at the freckles and spots on Christie. She didn’t intend to say anything at the time, since the appointment was for her daughter, not herself.
When the doctor was about to finish, however, she asked him about a bump she felt near her temple. Christie had started noticing the bump when she applied foundation in the area.
The doctor took out his magnifying glass and inspected the area. The spot troubled him, so he decided to do a biopsy immediately.
Her daughter’s appointment finished, but the doctor wanted to get the spot checked out before Christie left. He took a sample and realized that it was basal cell carcinoma, which is a type of skin cancer.
Christine’s Cancer Could Have Spread to Her Lymph Nodes
This type of cancer is common since you can easily become exposed to it after spending too much time outside in the sun without protection. The sun releases radiation, and while the Earth’s atmosphere protects everyone for the most part, too much exposure can lead to cancer.
The problem with skin cancer is that it can show up late in life. Even though Christie’s cancer showed up now, at 70 years old, it could have initially begun in her 30s or 40s.
According to the Mayo Clinic, basal cell carcinoma can be identified by its appearance. On white skin, the cancer will appear as a bump and take on a skin-like appearance in color or even pink. On darker skin, the bump can look brown or glossy black.
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For Christie, the good news was that she and the doctor caught her skin cancer early. Although it’s rare, this type of skin cancer can spread to a person’s lymph nodes, which becomes an even bigger problem.
It can also lead to the development of other types of skin cancers. So, Christie made the right choice to seek treatment immediately.
After the doctor diagnosed her, he immediately removed the cancer. She explained through her Instagram posts that the doctor made a nickel-sized incision where the bump was located at her temple.
He removed the cancer and then stitched her skin back together. All she needed to heal was a bandage wrapped around the area.
Christie called herself lucky since the doctor’s appointment wasn’t even meant for her. She also gave credit to her doctor, who took action immediately. She said that as soon he saw the bump, he knew he needed to do a biopsy then and there.
Christine Urges Fans to Protect Their Skin
Christie also encouraged her fans to take care of their skin. She called it “creating their own good luck” by regularly seeing their doctor and wearing sun protection.
She encouraged her fans to start wearing sunscreen, as that’s one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer. The model also shared that she was going to take protecting her skin more seriously, too.
Although she admitted that she was a bit late in protecting her skin, she was going to start putting on SPF 30 sunscreen regularly. She was also going to start wearing wide-brim hats and long-sleeve shirts when working outside in her garden.
Her last words of advice for her fans was to have a doctor check their bodies regularly. Fans can check out Christie’s Instagram to see all the photos she took of the operation during and after.
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Christie is best known for her career as a supermodel during the 1970s and ‘80s. Although she was born in Michigan, Christie was living in Paris when she was discovered and quickly set up with a modeling career. She graced the covers of Sports Illustrated and even had a cameo in National Lampoon’s Vacation, but she was best known for being the face of CoverGirl.
Christie also famously had another health scare when she was in a helicopter crash back in 1994. She was skiing at the time, and the helicopter was bringing her up a mountain. When it crashed, she injured her hip and eventually needed to have hip replacement surgery.
Thanks to the quick work of both her doctors, Christie is on the mend and taking her health more seriously.
