‘I worried about my sexuality, my femininity’: Janice Dickinson opens up about her battle with breast cancer
The model was worried she would have to have a double mastectomy
JANICE Dickinson has admitted she felt she would lose her femininity if she has to have a double mastectomy to battle her breast cancer.
The supermodel was diagnosed with the disease earlier this year and was initially worried she would have to undergo the procedure and that it would make her feel less of a woman.
Speaking to People, she said: "There was no self-pity, but I worried about leaving my family. I worried I wasn't going be attractive to my amazing and supportive fiancé...
"I worried about my sexuality, my femininity. I worried I would have to have a double mastectomy."
Janice - who is engaged to psychiatrist Dr. Robert Gerner - has had two lumpectomies and eight weeks of radiation treatment, she said she felt “lucky” after she was told she won’t need to have her breast implants out.
The 61-year-old added: "As soon as I went to see the machines at the oncology unit, I was just able to go through this process of become proactive. It all finally made sense.
"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.
"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."
The mother-of-two spoke about her diagnosis and admitted she knew something was wrong before the finally went to see her doctor.
She said: “For about eight or nine months, I just wasn't feeling the same. 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.
"My breast was tender, but I didn't do anything. It's like a toothache; you need to get it checked out."
And now she will be getting herself pre-emptively tested for other cancers after she lost her mother to the disease and 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."
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