Janice Dickinson Says She Plans ‘To Stick Around For A Long Long Time’ After Revealing Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Janice Dickinson announced that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, but she’s not going down without a fight. The former supermodel has spoken out since going public about the disease and she seems surprisingly optimistic.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Dickinson, 61, said the news was “quite shocking” given the fact that she's had multiple cosmetic procedures on her breasts, but added that she wanted to be as transparent as possible with fans. She told the publication she was shopping with her daughter Savannah when she got the call during which her doctor informed her that he’d found a small lump on her right breast. Although Dickinson admitted that she’s “fearful,” she has every intention of beating cancer.

“I’m going to get through this. You betcha, kiddo,” she said. “And I’ll be just fine. This is not a pity party. I’m Janice Dickinson. I’m going to stick around for a long long time.”

The reality star was reportedly diagnosed on March 12. She's battling early stage ductal carcinoma in situ, a common form of cancer which starts in the milk ducts. According to her fiancé, Robert “Rocky” Gerner, who is a psychiatrist, this type of cancer is “very calm.” He told the Daily Mail that doctors have decided she does not need a mastectomy at this stage. Dickinson is said to be undergoing regular blood tests, specialized mammograms and several other procedures to monitor the growth of her cancer.

Dickinson has not yet spoken out about her diagnosis on social media. It remains unclear how she plans to proceed with treatment.