Yahoo News Janice Dickinson Fears Undergoing Double Mastectomy Would ‘Lose Her Femininity’
Janice Dickinson has spoken about her fears of having to undergo a double mastectomy as part of her treatment for breast cancer.
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The 61-year-old avoided having both of her breast removed in an operation which hopes to eliminate the disease and instead was able to have just a lumpectomy and radiation therapy.
The former I’m A Celebrity: Get Me Out Of Here star says she was also able to keep her breast implants despite the eight-week treatment.
She had previously said that she feared the treatment would leave her ‘without her femininity’.
“I’ve had side effects from the radiation. And I have a tiny bit of scarring. But I’ve been lucky. They’ve told me I can keep my implants,” Janice told People.
Copyright: [Rex]
"They say there’s usually a bit of anger involved, but I haven’t gotten to the anger part yet.
"There’s nothing to be angry about. I’m just grateful for great doctors and an amazing support system of family and friends.”
Janice had admitted in interviews that she ‘felt something was wrong’ for months before she visited the doctor.
“For about eight or nine months, I just wasn’t feeling the same,” she said, adding:
"I didn’t have that same get-up-and-go. I’m an avid walker but friends would say, let’s go for a walk and I didn’t want to. I just felt off.
Copyright: [Rex]
"My breast was tender, but I didn’t do anything. It’s like a toothache, you need to get it checked out.”
Janice now says that she plans to get per-emptively tested regularly for all cancers to put her mind at rest.
She said: “I don’t want to have the question mark.
"If I have it, I want to know. I want to know that I am playing a part in living and driving my own bus.”
She also encourages other people to get tested early as well, saying that even if she convinces one person she will have done her job.
She said: “This battle isn’t behind me. But I will be like a phoenix walking through the ashes. I will see my grandchildren get married.
"And I have a new purpose: to make sure people get tested. If I can reach just one person, I’ve done my job.”
