‘Sister Wives’ Star Janelle Brown, 54, Reminds Fans To ‘Get Your Skin Checked’ After Having Two Precancerous Spots ‘Stopped In Their Tracks’ At Annual Doctor Visit

Brown warned her fans to get check by sharing selfie on Instagram this week, writing alongside the photo, “Posting this picture as a reminder to get your skin checked. Even if you have ALWAYS been careful about sunscreen. I am and always have been.

“You have to when you are as fair as I am. I had a basal cell carcinoma removed right after Covid. I go in annually to have a head to toe check. Today I had 2 pre-cancerous spots frozen and a tiny lump removed from my lip.”

She continued, “Yes it’s a pain to schedule the appointment when you are busy. And yes there is a small amount of discomfort. But 2 pre-cancerous spots stopped in their tracks. Worth it #skincancerprevention #maketheappointment #theworldneedsyou #yourfamilyneedsyou.”

Brown’s warning comes about three years after she first took to Instagram to open up about her basal cell carcinoma diagnosis.

She said in the 2021 post, “Many of you have been noticing and reaching out to me about the blemish above my lip in the new episodes. I am posting this picture hopefully for awareness.

“I started to see what looked like a scar develop in an area on my lip where all of my cold sores for the past two decades have erupted. At first I thought it was a new cold sore forming but then it never developed and just stayed.”

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After putting off an appointment for a couple of months, she finally had the eruption biopsied.

She explained, “It was a basal cell carcinoma, skin cancer, non malignant, but it still needed to be removed. I am happy to report that it was removed and all is well.”

The mother of six (and grandmother of two) with Kody Brown, 55, who she was “spiritually married” to and is now separated from, noted that she’s always been “very very careful” and using sunscreen to protect her skin, as she has the type of skin that burns easily.

“I hope this share will be helpful to some. I am sharing to say that, even if it seems like it couldn’t be skin cancer, it doesn’t hurt to have your doctor look at it,” she concluded.”

We’re glad to see Brown in control of her health and getting her necessary checkups. And although Brown did not outline the type of procedure she underwent to have her BCC removed, one such procedure that can be used to treat it is Mohs surgery. This type of procedure is a microscopically controlled surgery where thin layers of skin tissue are removed until the surgeon reaches clear tissue.

Meanwhile, Brown first rose to reality TV fame when she was featured as one of Kody Brown’s four wives, the others being Meri, Christine and Robyn.

The family first took to reality TV in September 2010, shocking America with the real life portrayal of a polygamist family (a family with multiple husbands or wives), not typically understood in today’s society.

Understanding Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, in the United States, an estimated 3.6 million cases of BCC are diagnosed each year. BCC develops when basal cells, one of three main types of cells in the top layer of the skin, grow abnormally or uncontrollably.

One distinguishing factor of this type of skin cancer is that it tends to grow more slowly resulting in minimal damage and making it generally curable when caught and treated early.

The tricky thing, however, is that BCC can often be overlooked as a pimple or skin tag. They may appear as raised areas on the skin with pale, pink or red-ish colors, and they may also have abnormal blood vessels. No matter what, if you have a spot on your skin that seems abnormal or questionable, you should consult your doctor because BCC can look very different from person to person.

Generally speaking, BCC occurs when DNA damage from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or indoor tanning triggers changes in basal cells. Because it most often develops on areas of the skin that are exposed to sun, it’s crucial to protect yourself from the sun in any way that you can.

“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.

No matter how vigilant you are about decreasing your risk for skin cancer, it’s important to still prioritize routine checkups with your dermatologist and always be on the lookout for any skin changes in between visits.

Surgery is the Best Option

“The gold standard for treatment of melanoma is surgical treatment with wide margins,” says Dr. Nima Gharavi, Director of Dermatologic Surgery at Cedars-Sinai.

In some cases of early-stage melanoma that’s close to the skin’s surface, Mohs surgery may be offered. This is most common in areas such as the face, ears, and nose.

This type of surgery is also considered the most effective technique for treating the two most common types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), according to skincancer.org.

Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a microscopically controlled procedure that removes skin cancer by conservatively cutting along the entire margin until the surgeon reaches clear tissue. It’s used more commonly to remove other skin cancers like basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.

Choose the Right Sunscreen and Use It Often

During the procedure, your doctor will numb the area with anesthesia and remove the tumor using a scalpel. You’ll be asked to wait while they analyze layers of the removed sample under a microscope. The procedure is done one layer at a time, analyzing each layer for cancer cells before removing the next layer.

This process continues until all cancer cells are removed from the area. Once the surgery is complete, your doctor will cover the area with a bandage. Stitches may also be required.

While Mohs surgery isn’t as common with melanoma as it is with other skin cancers, it may be the best option for some patients. Talk to your doctor about whether Mohs surgery is right for you.

WATCH: Dermatologic Surgeon Dr. Nima Gharavi, On The “Gold Standard Treatment” For Melanoma

Five Ways to Protect Yourself From Skin Cancer

Skin cancer can happen to anyone and develop at any time of year. It tends to occur on parts of the body that see more sun like the face, head, neck and arms, but it can also develop anywhere, including places like the bottoms of your feet, your genitals and the inside of your mouth.

If you’re wanting to minimize your risk of developing skin cancer, check out these tips from Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board certified dermatologic surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue.

Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer

1. Avoid sun during peak hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
2. 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.
3. Wear at least SPF 30 sunscreen and make sure to reapply every two hours or after excessive sweating or swimming.
4. Have yearly skin checks (with a professional) because it’s difficult to evaluate areas all over the body.
5. Avoid tanning beds. There are no “good” tanning beds, and they can significantly increase your risk of skin cancer.

In addition, make sure to prioritize skin protection all year round. People often focus on things like sunscreen use solely in the summer, but our experts know skin damage can happen at any time of the year.

RELATED: Choose the Right Sunscreen and Use It Often

Which Sunscreen Should I Choose To Prevent Cancer?

“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.”

The Importance of Advocating for Yourself

Although Janelle Brown previously been skin cancer, she understands the importance of getting annual checkups and seeking medical advice when something seems off with your body.

It’s important to stand up for yourself, especially if you feel that you’re being dismissed or mistreated by a doctor. Getting a second opinion is crucial if something doesn’t feel right.

Here at SurvivorNet, we say that no one knows your body better than you, so if you feel like something is wrong, keep pushing.

Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate – Don’t Settle

Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet that sometimes, patients need to be pushy.

“From a doctor’s perspective, every problem should have a diagnosis, a treatment, a plan for follow-up, and a plan for what happens next if the treatment doesn’t work,” Dr. Murrell said.

And as a patient, “If you don’t feel like each of these four things has been accomplished, just ask! Even if it requires multiple visits or seeing additional providers for a second opinion, always be your own advocate.”

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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