Brinkley On Aging With Grace And Focusing On Health
- Legendary model Christie Brinkley is incredibly resilient — she’s been through skin cancer, faced a breast cancer scare, and even lived through a helicopter crash in Colorado. At 71, she’s using her lived experiences to focus on what really matters as she gets older.
- Although Brinkley has admitted to using dermal fillers, she insists she prioritizes her overall health over anything. “I don’t try to get rid of every wrinkle,” she says.
- She revealed last year that she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer. A concerning spot she often covered with makeup was examined to confirm her diagnosis. She had a surgery to remove the cancer and went public with her journey to encourage others to enjoy sun safely.
- Dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen with at least SPF 30 while outdoors, using hats and sunglasses to protect delicate areas, and regularly getting skin checks to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
While promoting her new memoir “Uptown Girl: A Memoir,” which was just published at the end of April, the 71-year-old supermodel admitted to People, “I’ve dabbled with fillers and I go to my doctor in the city. I don’t want to look ‘done’ or anything.
Read MoreChristie Brinkley’s Skin Cancer Journey
Brinkley learned of her skin cancer while getting her daughter checked out by a dermatologist.“As he was putting away his little thing, I said, ‘Before you put that away, do you think you could just look at this?” Brinkley asked the dermatologist while recounting her experience in an earlier interview on the “Today” show, People Magazine reports.
The supermodel had a spot on her face, which she usually covered with makeup. She hoped to get a second look.
“He looked, and he goes, ‘We’ve got to do a biopsy immediately,” Brinkley said, effectively kickstarting her skin cancer journey.
Expert Resources On Body Positivity
The good news, she lated explained, was that they caught the basal cell carcinoma early.
“I had great doctors who removed the cancer and stitched me up to perfection,” Brinkley explained.
Basal cell carcinoma is one of the most common types of skin cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. People who spend lots of time in the sun unprotected or use tanning beds are most at risk for basal and squamous cell skin cancers.
The general signs of this type of skin cancer include:
- Reddish patches of raised, itchy skin
- Firm, flat, pale, or yellow areas on your skin
- Small, pink, red, shiny, or translucent bumps
- Open sores that don’t fully heal
Brinkley’s experience with skin cancer turned her into an advocate for enjoying the sun safely.
“The good news is that all of this can be avoided by being diligent about sun protection! I got serious a bit late, so now, for this ole mermaid/gardener, I’ll be slathering on my SPF 30, reapplying as needed, and wearing long sleeves and a wide-brim hat,” Brinkley said.
How To Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer
As much as many of us enjoy spending lots of time in the sun during the spring and summer, we must remember that the sun can harm us. For most people, there are simple ways to significantly reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
We asked dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman for the top five ways to protect your skin from cancer. Most of her recommendations are simple to follow — and could save your life.
Here are her top 5 ways to prevent skin cancer:
- Avoid the sun during peak hours, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you are outside during those hours, protect yourself from harmful sun rays.
- Cover your skin and eyes. A wide-brim hat and sunglasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears, and the delicate skin around your eyes.
- Wear an SPF of 30 or higher. Dr. Engelman also recommends reapplying every few hours or after excessive sweating or swimming.
- Get an annual skin check. You can check your skin for anything that looks out of the ordinary, but you should still get a yearly check to ensure you don’t miss anything. If you notice anything unusual between checks, schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor.
- Avoid tanning beds. If you feel like you’re just too pale, Dr. Engelman recommends a sunless tanner. “There’s absolutely no benefit to going to a tanning bed,” Dr. Engelman said.
Dr. Dendy Engelman shares her best skin safety tips.
Remember, you should check your body for any unusual spots or moles on your skin at least once a month. Any new spots on your skin or changes in size or color demand your attention.
Skin Cancer Treatment Options
How skin cancer is treated depends on its size and how much it has spread. Typically, skin cancers are treated with surgery — though when diagnosed at a more advanced stage, treatment may involve radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.
In many cases early-stage cases, surgery can be curative.
For the type of cancer Brinkley had, basal cell carcinoma, an approach called Mohs surgery may be used. This is a microscopically-controlled surgery where thin layers of skin cancer tissue are removed until the surgeon reaches clear tissue.
When a someone undergoes surgery for BCC, it typically involves the following steps:
Diagnosis
Before surgery, a dermatologist or skin specialist will diagnose the basal cell carcinoma. This is typically done through a skin biopsy, where a small sample of the affected area is removed and examined under a microscope to confirm the presence of cancerous cells.
Pre-operative evaluation
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient’s overall health and the specific characteristics of the basal cell carcinoma, such as its size, location, and depth, are evaluated to determine the most appropriate surgical approach.
You are able to remove a very conservative margin around the cancer and study it in essentially real-time, explains Dr. Sumaira Aasi, Professor of Dermatology and Director of Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery at Stanford. If, when the surgeon examines the tissue under the microscope, cancer is found, the surgeon goes back and removes some more tissue.
The idea is that by making the tiniest cuts and evaluating them microscopically, the surgeon knows for certain that all the cancer is out when the last piece of tissue proves to be clear. It is often done as an outpatient procedure with local anesthetic.
Reconstruction
Depending on the size and location of the surgical site, reconstructive surgery may be necessary to optimize cosmetic outcomes and restore the function of the treated area. This could involve sutures, skin grafts, or other techniques.
Post-operative care
After the surgery, patients are typically given instructions for wound care, which may include keeping the area clean, changing dressings, and avoiding sun exposure to prevent further damage to the skin.
Follow-up
Regular follow-up appointments are essential to monitor the surgical site for any signs of recurrence and to address any concerns or complications.
Dr. Sumaira Aasi explains the process of undergoing Mohs surgery for skin cancer.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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