Christie Brinkley revealed some big news on Wednesday: She recently underwent surgery to have skin cancer removed from her face.
The 70-year-old shared photos of herself on Instagram with large bandages on her forehead, a huge gash, and stitches. (The second and third snaps now include a sensitive content warning.)
Christie says she was “lucky” she found her skin cancer, since she was only diagnosed after she asked her daughter’s dermatologist to check out the spot last-minute. “He took a look and knew immediately it needed a biopsy,” she says. “He did it then and there.”
Here’s everything to know about Christie's skin cancer journey.
What kind of cancer does Christie Brinkley have?
Christie had basal cell carcinoma, per the model herself. This is the most common type of skin cancer and it begins in the basal cells, which produce new skin cells, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
About 5.4 million basal and squamous cell cancers (the two most common types of skin cancer) are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and about 80% of those are basal cell cancers, the American Cancer Society (ACS) says.
What does basal cell carcinoma look like?
Basal cell carcinoma can look like a shiny, skin-colored bump that is slightly translucent, according to the Mayo Clinic. It can look pearly white or pink on white skin, and brown or glossy black on darker skin. You may also see tiny blood vessels, per the Mayo Clinic.
Basal cell carcinoma may also have a flat, scaly patch with a raised edge or create a white, waxy, scar-like lesion without a clear border, according to the hospital.
Christie describes hers as “a little tiny dot I could feel as I applied my foundation.”
How dangerous is basal cell carcinoma?
While basal cell skin cancers are common, deaths from it are not since the cancer is slow-growing, according to the ACS. Fewer than 2,000 Americans die from it annually, per the University of California, Davis.
Most people who die from basal cell carcinoma are older and may not have seen a doctor until the cancer has grown large, the ACS says. People who are immunosuppressed may also be at higher risk of serious complications or death from basal cell carcinoma.
Should basal cell carcinoma be removed?
If your doctor suspects that you have basal cell carcinoma, they will usually take a biopsy and remove it, the AAD says.
That’s exactly what happened with Christie, who says she “had great doctors that removed the cancer and stitched me up to perfection like an haute couture Dior.”
What causes skin cancer?
Basal cell carcinoma happens when one of the skin's basal cells develops a mutation in its DNA, the Mayo Clinic explains. Most of the damage to DNA in basal cells is thought to be from UV radiation found in sunlight and commercial tanning beds, though the hospital notes that the exact cause, in some cases, isn’t entirely clear.
Christie urged her followers to be safe in the sun. “The good news for you is that all of this can be avoided by being diligent with your sun protection!” she says. “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. And doing regular total body check ups…that is a MUST!”
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