An Unexpected Cancer Discovery
- Popular ‘80s supermodel Christie Brinkley, 70, was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer. She learned of her cancer while asking her daughter’s dermatologist to look at a spot on her face she usually covered with makeup.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), basal cell carcinomas (BCC), and melanoma are the three most common types. People who spend much time in the sun unprotected or use tanning beds are most at risk for basal and squamous cell skin cancers.
- When someone undergoes surgery for BCC like Brinkley received, it typically involves Mohs surgery. This procedure is microscopically controlled, and thin layers of skin cancer tissue are removed layer by layer until the surgeon reaches clear tissue.
- You should check your body for unusual spots or moles at least once a month. Any new spots or changes in size or color demand your attention.
- Wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, avoiding tanning beds, and avoiding direct sunlight during peak hours (10 am—2 pm) can help reduce your risk.
Popular supermodel Christie Brinkley, 70, has been outspoken about her skin cancer journey since it began earlier this Spring. Ironically, Brinkley says she 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 on the “Today” show People Magazine reports.
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“The good news for me is we caught the basal cell carcinoma early. I had great doctors who removed the cancer and stitched me up to perfection,” Brinkley said.
Brinkley was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the three most common types are squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas (BCC), 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 appearance of basal are:
- 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
“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.
Expert Resources on Skin Cancer
- Cancer-Causing Chemical Found in Banana Boat Sunscreen Leads to Recall; How to Select the Right Sunscreen for Your Skin
- 3 Skin Cancer Myths, Busted: Can One Bad Sun Burn Cause Cancer?
- Treatment For Basal Cell Carcinoma: Mohs Surgery Removes This Skin Cancer With Smaller Incisions and More Certainty
- Can I Get Skin Cancer On My Genitals Even Though They’ve NEVER Seen The Sun?
Treating Basal Cell Carcinoma
When someone undergoes surgery for BCC, it typically involves Mohs surgery. This procedure is microscopically controlled, and thin layers of skin cancer tissue are removed layer by layer until the surgeon reaches clear tissue.
WATCH: Understanding how some skin cancers are treated.
BCC treatment usually follows this general path:
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 BCC, such as its size, location, and depth, are evaluated to determine the most appropriate surgical approach.
“You can remove a very conservative margin around cancer and study it in real-time,” explains Dr. Sumaira Aasi, Professor of Dermatology and Director of Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery at Stanford. If cancer is found when the surgeon examines the tissue under the microscope, the surgeon removes some more tissue.
By making the tiniest cuts and evaluating them microscopically, the surgeon knows 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.
Tips 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.
- 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.
How to Spot Skin Cancer
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.
WATCH: Get Your Moles Evaluated to Rule Out Melanoma.
Changes to a mole you’ve had for a while or a new growth on your skin could be signs of melanoma, according to SurvivorNet’s experts. Though these marks are unlikely to be cancerous, you’ll want to keep an eye on them and inform your doctor about any changes you notice.
Melanoma is most likely to develop on sun-exposed skin, such as the face, neck, arms, and legs. Surprisingly, it might also develop in places that have never been exposed to the sun, such as the palms of your hands or soles of your feet, your eyes or mouth, or under your nails.
SurvivorNet experts describe melanoma symptoms as:
- A sore that doesn’t heal
- Color that spreads from the border of a spot to the skin around it
- Redness or swelling that goes beyond the area of a mole.
- Itchiness, tenderness, or pain
- A change in the way the surface of a mole looks.
- Scaliness, oozing, or blood
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, you may have some questions for your doctor. SurvivorNet suggests some of the following to help you on your cancer journey.
- What type of skin cancer do I have?
- What treatment options exist for this type of cancer?
- Will insurance cover this treatment?
- Would treatment through a clinical trial make sense to me?
- What resources exist to help manage my anxiety because of this diagnosis?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
