*Warning: This article contains graphic images
Christie Brinkley, a supermodel, confirmed on Instagram that she had skin cancer.
The 70-year-old released graphic images of herself after surgery, explaining that physicians detected the basal cell carcinoma early and removed it.
Christie said the cancer was discovered by accident when she went to an appointment with her daughter and asked the doctor to inspect a ‘small dot’ on her skin.
The Sports Illustrated model also warned her 898K followers to be ‘diligent’ about sun protection and to’slather on’ SPF.
Christie provided three photos of herself: one shortly after surgery, revealing a gouge on the left side of her face near her hairline, another with the wound patched up, and a third with a bandage covering the afflicted region.
She captioned the post: ‘The good news for me is we caught the basal cell Carcinoma early. And I had great Doctors that removed the cancer and stitched me up to perfection like an haute couture Dior 👍.
‘The good news for you is that all of this can be avoided by being diligent with your 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, wearing long sleeves and a wide brim hat. And doing regular total body check ups..that is a MUST!
‘I was lucky to find mine, because I was accompanying one of my daughters to HER check up .. The Doctor was looking at each freckle with a magnifying glass… it wasn’t my appointment so I wasn’t going to say anything but at the VERY end I asked if he could just look at a little tiny dot I could feel as I applied my foundation.
‘He took a look and knew immediately it needed a biopsy! He did it then and there! So make your own good luck by making that check up appointment today. And slather up my friends!’
Christie finished the caption by thanking the doctors at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York.
According to the NHS, basal cell carcinoma is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer that starts in the top layer of skin.
The major cause is ultraviolet radiation from the sun, which is utilised in sunbeds, and it is generally treatable, according to the health agency.
Christie’s Instagram followers swarmed her post with supportive responses when she announced the illness.
‘Powerful post I love you😍,’ Patrick Foley shared.
Laurenn Books added: ‘So glad they caught it Christie heal well!’
Justin Anderson also said: ‘Thank you for sharing! I just had two scary ones removed too and not enough of us talk about this here 🙌🏼♥️🥹 sending good healing vibes ❤️🩹 ☀️ 🏄🏼♂️.’
Christie celebrated her 70th birthday last month with a short photoshoot on Instagram, during which she spoke out about her body image.
‘Looking in the mirror on my 70th Birthday and what do I see, I’m finally happy with the person looking back at me,’ she captioned the upload.
‘I’m no longer critical and demanding, now I’m grateful and understanding. I’ve put this body thru it, I’ve broken every bone.
‘In tiny miracles I’m all healed, in my heart and soul I’m home. It’s taken 70 years to get here, in tears and joy I’ve found my happy.’
Christie was found in the 1970s and has since appeared on an astonishing three straight Sports Illustrated Swimwear covers.
She was the face of CoverGirl for 25 years.
