Aging Gracefully After Basal Cell Carcinoma Scare
- “Shark Tank” star and The Corcoran Group founder Barbara Corcoran, who previously had a basal cell carcinoma, is thriving at age 75 and not shy to admit she’s had two facelifts to maintain her youthful appearance.
- Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer.
- It is important to treat BCC early because, while it is highly curable and typically slow-growing, lesions can grow and become disfiguring and dangerous.
- BCC can often be overlooked as a pimple or skin tag. The lesions can look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, scars or growths with slightly elevated, rolled edges and/or a central indentation. These spots may ooze, crust, itch or bleed.
It’s absolutely inspirational how far the business woman, investor, and author of the best seller “Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business!” has come since growing up in a household of 10 siblings, getting consistent bad grades in school, and working 22 jobs by age 23.
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In response to her post, featuring a smiling Corcoran wearing a bright pink blazer, her fan’s praised her fresh looks, with one commenting, “Shoot… I’d have one too if in my budget! Ya look fffab-u-lous!”
Another fan wrote, “Love it and own it,” while a third said, “Love it!!!! Let’s be honest with procedures. And whoever did your facelift did an incredible job!!!! Perfection.”
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Corcoran, who shared the post on both TikTok and Instagram, also admitted the procedures were “worth the money.” She also noted, “at least I’m honest.”
And it wasn’t the first time Corcoran opened up about having work done to her face. Last year she shared side-by-side photos of her, comparing how she looked on season 1 and season 14 of “Shark Tank,” writing, “2 facelifts & 100+ deals later…” The post also reaped praise from fans, with many calling her “beautiful” and “fantastic.”
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Barbara Corcoran’s Basal Cell Carcinoma Scare
Meanwhile, Corcoran was previously interviewed on the medical podcast, “The Checkup with Doctor Mike,” and revealed she’s been treated for basal cell carcinoma, a cancer diagnosis she was informed of after her first consultation for her facelift.
She told Dr. Mike, “I had built my business, sold it, and I worked so hard building that business that my face looked it, so I decided to have a facelift.
“I was 46. I went to the best surgeon in New York, checked everybody out, showed up at his office, ready to make my appointment for the facelift and he sent me to a cancer doctor.”
Corcoran continued, “I was like, ‘Woah! This wasn’t supposed to go this way.'”
Feeling Beautiful Isn’t About Beauty
When Dr. Mike asked why she wasn’t sent to a dermatologist, she explained, “I had been to three or four eye doctors that they all said I had a clogged pore. It went on for five, six years”
Referring to how she went to the cancer doctor and received her diagnosis, she added, “He looked at my face without even looking close and said you have cancer on your eye. That was the bad news. But then, when I was at the cancer doctor I realized this is real surgery that I need … and I got my eye lift for free. I was so happy.”
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Corcoran has been looking better than ever since her surgeries and she isn’t shy about it. She even posted a photo of her at age 23 on Instagram last year, alongside a photo of her in the year 2023.
Writing in a letter to herself, she wrote, “Hey there, 23-year-old me! Listen up, I’ve got some words of wisdom from the future. Let’s talk about failure… Yeah, I know it feels like you’ve had more bad bosses than anyone in the world with those 22 jobs, but trust me, it’s not the end of the road. Mom always taught us to embrace our imagination, even when we sucked at school. And guess what? That imagination will make us rich! So, keep getting back up even when your back’s against the wall.
Now, let’s talk about Dad. That guy knows how to have fun in life! If you listen to dad more, all you’ll have to focus on while building a business is having a damn good time. And you know what? He was right. Life’s too short. That diner waitress job you’re busing tables for? It’s gonna change your life. Trust me on this. And when that handsome man offers you a ride home, you better take it! He will give you $1,000 to start your own real estate company. Yup! A thousand bucks!”
The mom of two concluded, “I know what you’re thinking ‘real estate?! I don’t know anything about real estate!’ Trust me you’ll learn. And guess what?! You’ll be the biggest name in the industry. People will stop you on street corners to ask your opinion on the market. Along the way, you’re gonna meet incredible people, some not-so incredible people, make connections, and learn the ins and outs of running a business. It’s gonna be tough, but it’s gonna be worth it.
“You’ll also fall in and out of love, one too many times. You’ll get your heart broken and you’ll feel like you hit rock bottom. But eventually you’ll find your better half, and guess what?! He’s a Navy captain! You go, Barbie! Your next title will be your best yet: Mom. You’ll have the family you’ve always dreamed of. It’ll take more effort than expected, but those 7 rounds of IVF will all be worth it. Your heart will overflow with love! ”
In a more recent social media post, Corcoran offered some insight into her childhood and what it was like growing up with so many siblings.
She captioned a post, featuring a photo of her and her sisters and brothers, “Here we are, all 10 kids! Can you spot me? I grew up in a bustling household with all my siblings running around, each with our own unique energy and personality. Being one of 10 kids taught me some of the most valuable lessons responsible for my success.
“My mom determined each child’s gift on the way home from the hospital, and she was pretty spot on! My mother said I had a wonderful imagination, so my job was to entertain everybody. I came up with all sorts of games to keep my siblings and the other kids in our neighborhood busy and having fun. That gave me the confidence to use my creativity, and I built a huge business driven by it!”
She also noted that growing up with her brothers and sisters taught her “resilience and adaptability.”
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Corcoran explained, “It’s an enormously competitive environment when you’re in a clan of kids. And when you’re constantly competing for attention and space, you learn pretty quickly how to roll with the punches and find your groove in the madness.
“The dinner table was always crowded, but I learned how to speak up and be heard. The friendly competition fueled us to be the best we could be, and we’re all better off because of it. I wouldn’t.
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How Dangerous Is Basal Cell Carcinoma?
Basal cell carcinoma, or BCC, is the most common form of skin cancer. It develops when basal cells, one of three main types of cells in the top layer of the skin, grow abnormally or uncontrollably. In the United States, an estimated 3.6 million cases of BCC are diagnosed each year.
BCC is unique because it tends to grow slowly. This means it generally causes minimal damage and is usually curable when caught and treated early. Still, untreated BCC lesions can grow and become disfiguring and dangerous.
Important Skin Cancer Resources
- Treatment For Basal Cell Carcinoma: Mohs Surgery Removes This Skin Cancer With Smaller Incisions and More Certainty
- 3 Skin Cancer Myths, Busted: Can One Bad Sun Burn Cause Cancer?
- A 17% Decreased Risk of Skin Cancer Just By Eating More Cantaloupes, Carrots, and Sweet Potatoes
- Examining Your Skin for Melanoma: Remember ABCDE
“Untreated BCCs can become locally invasive, grow wide and deep into the skin and destroy skin, tissue and bone,” the Skin Cancer Foundation website says. “The longer you wait to get treatment, the more likely it is that the BCC will recur, sometimes repeatedly.
“There are some highly unusual, aggressive cases when BCC spreads to other parts of the body. In even rarer instances, this type of BCC can become life-threatening.”
Mohs Surgery Removes Skin Cancer With Smaller Incisions and More Certainty
There are some “highly unusual, aggressive cases when BCC spreads to other parts of the body.” Rarer cases of aggressive BCC can even become life-threatening.
Still, BCCs rarely spread beyond the original tumor site. But the longer treatment is delayed, the more likely it is that the BCC will recur, sometimes repeatedly. That’s why we stress the importance of treating BCC and treating it early. This can prove difficult, however, because BCC can often disguise itself as a pimple or skin tag.
The Skin Cancer Foundation says they can look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, scars or growths with slightly elevated, rolled edges and/or a central indentation. The spots can ooze, crust, itch or bleed, and spots on people with darker skin can be pigmented (brown in color).
If you ever find yourself noticing a spot on your skin that seems abnormal for you, make sure to bring it up with your doctor. BCC can vary from person to person, so it’s always a good idea to pay attention to your skin, confront your doctor about anything questionable and prioritize checkups with a dermatologist.
Reducing Your Skin Cancer Risk
Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue, previously spoke with SurvivorNet about some things you can do every day to help minimize your risk of skin cancer.
- Avoid the sun during peak hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect the tops of our heads, the tops of our ears and the delicate area around the eye.
- Wear at least SPF 30 sunscreen and make sure to reapply every two hours or after excessive sweating or swimming.
- Have yearly skin checks (with a professional) because it’s difficult to evaluate areas all over the body.
- Avoid tanning beds. There are no “good” tanning beds, and they can significantly increase your risk of skin cancer.
- And remember that skin protection is equally important all year round.
“My patients ask me all the time, ‘Do I really need sunscreen every day, all year round?’ The answer is yes,” Dr. Engelman told SurvivorNet. “People think they only need sun protection when they’re in the bright, warm sunshine. But the reality is, we can get sun damage at any time throughout the year, even in the cold, wintry months. Think about when you go skiing. That’s a very high risk. Even though it’s cold, our skin should be protected.”
Protecting Your Skin From Cancer
Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, also spoke with SurvivorNet in an earlier interview and suggests people use nothing less than SPF 30 and reapply it every two hours. Additionally, sunscreen should be a broad spectrum, says Dr. Larocca, meaning it covers both UVB and UVA rays.
According to Dr. Larocca, people usually only get about 50% of the SPF on the label. Therefore, if you’re using SPF 60, you’re actually nearing 30 SPF of protection. To be positive you’re receiving the right protection, Dr. Larocca also recommends using sunscreen every two hours and wearing protective clothing, like sunglasses or a hat.
Choose the Right Sunscreen and Use It Often
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?
Ann Caruso spends her days helping celebrities with the way they look and dress. Her take on body image was rattled after a breast cancer diagnosis.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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