Linda Evangelista.Photo:The View/Twitter
The View/Twitter
Linda Evangelistais reflecting on being a two-time breast cancer survivor.
On Thursday, the supermodel appeared onThe Viewfor Breast Cancer Awareness Month and opened up about being diagnosed in December 2018 and again in July 2020. During the show, co-hostWhoopi Goldbergasked if her diagnoses differed.
“I think everybody’s experience is going to be different,” the 58-year-old began. “It started out with my routine mammogram. I know we don’t like doing our mammograms. I’m the biggest procrastinator, but that’s one thing I was really faithful to.”
Evangelista said she was called back into the room after her mammogram and learned she had ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early form of breast cancer.
“I have another disease that involves my lungs, and a lumpectomy that wasn’t so great ended up being a double mastectomy, which was the right decision for me. And I thought, you know, I’m not going to die of breast cancer,” she continued. “And then, you know, there’s this little little chance it comes back.”
Linda Evangelista on The View.The View/Twitter
Evangelista ultimately went back to her oncologist after feeling a “bump” on her pectoral muscle, and she later learned her breast cancer returned.
“Everybody’s story’s going to be nuanced,” she explained. “And mine ended up being, ‘Well just get it out and give you some radiation.’ But I had a really bad oncotype score. It’s a score that tells you your probability of getting the cancer again. They take into account many many things including genetics. But mine was bad.”
“I had to have chemo — I’m on fantastic meds for five years, they make you feel so good,” she said sarcastically. “They’re horrible. They’re hormone suppressors. They make you feel old.”
Linda Evangelista points out where she felt a lump.The View/Twitter
“I’ve had so many surgeries and I thought I could tackle anything but nothing like chemo to put you in your… you know,” she shared before tellingJoy Beharthat she’s embracing her scars from her battles.
“I’m okay with scars,” the model said. “I think scars are trophies. I’m good with scars.”
Evangelista also said since battling breast cancer, she values life much more. Her goal is survival, she says — to “get really, really old. "
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Evangelista first detailed her breast cancer journey in her cover story forWSJ. Magazine’sFall Men’s Style issuelast month.
She told the outlet that recently, her post-cancer care oncologist told her that her prognosis is “good,” despite knowing the chance for her cancer to return again.
Evangelista acknowledged that because her future is uncertain, she’s simply grateful for each day.
source: people.com
