The model revealed her diagnosis this week.
Christie Brinkley has opened up about her recent skin cancer diagnosis — and she hopes her health scare will serve as an important reminder for others to wear sunscreen regularly.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, the 70-year-old revealed that she had a form of skin cancer known as basal cell carcinoma and underwent surgery. The model included an image of the bandaged-up left side of her forehead, a “before” image accompanied by a graphic content warning showing a gaping hole where the doctor had operated, and a photo of her stitched-up wound.
“The good news for me is we caught the basal cell carcinoma early,” she wrote. “And I had great doctors that removed the cancer and stitched me up to perfection like a haute couture Dior.”
Her announcement doubled as a PSA as she reminded followers to slather on some SPF before going outside, though she admittedly didn’t always take her own sun protection seriously. “I got serious a bit late so now for this ole mermaid/gardener, I’ll be slathering on my SPF 30, reapplying as needed, wearing long sleeves and a wide-brim hat,” she said.
Brinkley went on to urge people to go to their dermatologist and get their annual skin check-ups. She marveled at how “lucky” that hers was caught by chance while accompanying her daughter to an appointment. At first, she said she wasn’t going to say anything, but then asked the doctor to look at a “tiny dot” on her face where she typically applied her foundation.
“He took a look and knew immediately it needed a biopsy! He did it then and there! So make your own good luck by making that check-up appointment today,” she added before thanking her doctors.
Brinkley’s diagnosis is hardly isolated. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC, also called basal cell skin cancer, or just basal cell cancer) is the most common type of skin cancer. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 3.6 million people are diagnosed each year, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. It starts in the basal cells, which exist within the skin and produce new skin cells to replace old ones as they die off, and it often appears as a slightly transparent bump on the skin, the Mayo Clinic explains.
While anyone can get skin cancer, long-term exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays is considered the main culprit behind it. That explains why it can usually be spotted in exposed areas, such as your face and neck. And if you’re fair-skinned or spend a lot of time at tanning beds (where UV rays also lurk), you could be especially at risk.
But the good news is that the condition is very treatable if it’s caught early. The best way to prevent it is to take precautions like wearing sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) and opting for SPF clothing or a wide-brimmed hat. As Brinkley emphasized in her social media post, “Slather up, my friends!”
