Janice Dickinson has revealed she has breast cancer.
The 61-year-old former supermodel announced the news of her diagnosis in an interview with the Daily Mail. Dickinson learned she had breast cancer after a "pea-sized lump" was discovered in her right breast during a routine breast exam. Following a mammogram and biopsy, the brunette beauty was diagnosed with a typical form of breast cancer which originates in the milk ducts called early stage ductal carcinoma in situ.
Despite her fear, the former America's Next Top Model judge is staying strong and optimistic.
"I am not gonna let that define me, the fear," she told the website. "I'm going to get through this, I'll be just fine kiddo."
However, she is no stranger to cancer. She lost her mother, Jennie Marie Pietrzykoski, to the disease in 1995.
"I've lost both parents, my mother died of cancer, that was a very painful moment when I found out about my mother and it was very painful when I found out about my dad, even though we had our differences, died of a heart attack," she added.
Fortunately, she has her fiancé Dr. Robert Gerner and her two children, Nathan and Savannah, to see her through this trying time. While she is already facing "almost daily" appointments at UCLA, her doctors have ruled out the need for a mastectomy.
"I know that my fiancé is a doctor of the highest caliber, I have four specialists, I've been prodded and poked on the inside and out," she said. "I can tell you I'm very, very lucky."
The often outspoken reality star is keeping her head held high and doesn't want your tears. "Don't feel sorry for me, this is not a pity party," she concluded to the website. "I'm Janice Dickinson and I'm gonna stick around for a long, long time, you ain't getting rid of me yet."