Christie Brinkley Making an Impact after Her Cancer Scare
- Model Christie Brinkley recently headlined a fundraising event for the Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope. She’s previously said both she and her mother had breast cancer scares, and her recent post about the fundraiser thanked “the amazing souls who do everything in their power to help make the challenge of facing cancer a little easier.”
- Breast cancer is a common cancer that has been the subject of much research. There are many treatment options for people with this disease, but treatment depends greatly on the specifics of each case. Identifying these specifics means looking into whether the cancerous cells have certain receptors the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor and the HER2 receptor.
- Mammograms, a standard screening procedure for breast cancer, and self breast exams can save lives. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends women begin mammogram screening for breast cancer at age 45 if they are at average risk for breast cancer
Monroe, Michigan native Christie Brinkley, 68, achieved worldwide fame with her appearances in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues of the 1970s. Fast forward to today, and she’s worked as an actress, illustrator, television personality, photographer, writer and designer. And, to top it all off, Brinkley, who know lives in Sag Harbor on New York’s Long Island, recently been involved with the Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope a nonprofit organization based in a Palm Beach County, Florida, dedicated to “[easing] the burden of qualified local cancer patients by paying a portion of their non-medical bills, supplementing basic needs, and providing support and information resources.”
Christie Brinkley Moving Forward after Her Cancer Scare
Read More“Before I jump on the plane, a quick thank you to the amazing souls who do everything in their power to help make the challenge of facing cancer a little easier…easing economic pressures and fears with the all encompassing compassionate care they give,” she wrote in her caption. “I am so impressed by their work. I will add more pertinent information here and in stories. It was my honor to share today with all of you!”View this post on Instagram
And the mission of the organization, though it’s never directly impacted her, means something to the supermodel who shared in 1999 that both her mother and she had a breast cancer scare.
“Both my mom and myself had scares, and thank goodness, neither of us had cancer,” Brinkley told The Associated Press. “But those two incidents gave me just a little teeny glimpse of what it's like to have the fear and the rush of emotions.”
Understanding Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a common cancer that has been the subject of much research. Many women develop breast cancer every year, but men can develop this cancer too though it is more rare, in part, due to the simple fact that they have less breast tissue.
There are many treatment options for people with this disease, but treatment depends greatly on the specifics of each case. Identifying these specifics means looking into whether the cancerous cells have certain receptors. These receptors the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor and the HER2 receptor can help identify the unique features of the cancer and help personalize treatment.
The Unique Features of Breast Cancer: Deciding the Right Course of Treatment
"These receptors, I like to imagine them like little hands on the outside of the cell, they can grab hold of what we call ligands, and these ligands are essentially the hormones that may be circulating in the bloodstream that can then be pulled into this cancer cell and used as a fertilizer, as growth support for the cells," Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
One example of a type of ligand that can stimulate a cancer cell is the hormone estrogen, hence why an estrogen receptor positive breast cancer will grow when stimulated by estrogen. For these cases, your doctor may offer treatment that specifically targets the estrogen receptor. But for HER2 positive breast cancers, therapies that uniquely target the HER2 receptor may be the most beneficial.
The Importance of Breast Cancer Screenings
We don’t know the specifics of Brinkley’s breast cancer scare, but it’s likely her scare was the result of breast cancer screening. And though cancer scares can happen as a result of these screenings, it’s crucial to recognize how important they are in detecting cancer at earlier stages.
Screening for breast cancer is typically done via mammogram, which looks for lumps in the breast tissue and signs of cancer. And while mammograms aren't perfect, they are still a great way to begin annual screening. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends women begin mammogram screening for breast cancer at age 45 if they are at average risk for breast cancer.
RELATED: When You're Getting a Mammogram, Ask About Dense Breasts
For screening purposes, a woman is considered to be at average risk if she doesn't have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer such as a BRCA gene mutation or a medical history including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30.
Beyond genetics, family history and experience with radiation therapy, experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Connie Lehman, chief of the Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital, said people who hadn't reached menopause yet should prioritize getting a mammogram every year.
When Should I Get a Mammogram?
"We know that cancers grow more rapidly in our younger patients, and having that annual mammogram can be lifesaving," Dr. Lehman said. "After menopause, it may be perfectly acceptable to reduce that frequency to every two years. But what I'm most concerned about is the women who haven't been in for a mammogram for two, three or four years, those women that have never had a mammogram. We all agree regular screening mammography saves lives."
It's also important to be on top of self breast exams. If you ever feel a lump in your breast, you should be vigilant and speak with your doctor right away. Voicing your concerns as soon as you have them can lead to earlier cancer detection which, in turn, can lead to better outcomes.
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