Supermodel Linda Evangelista Reveals Battle with Breast Cancer Twice in Five Years
New York, NY – Linda Evangelista, the iconic supermodel known for her work in the 1990s, recently shared in an interview with The Wall Street Journal Magazine the challenges she has faced in her health journey. The 58-year-old revealed that she has survived breast cancer not once, but twice, in a span of five years.
In 2018, Evangelista received her first breast cancer diagnosis after an annual mammogram. This marked the first time she spoke publicly about her battle with cancer. Choosing to undergo a bilateral mastectomy, she believed she was “good and set for life” and that breast cancer would not be the cause of her demise.
However, in 2022, four years after her initial diagnosis, Evangelista received devastating news. The cancer had returned, this time in her pectoral muscle. Determined to fight, she told her surgeon, “Dig a hole in my chest. I want to see a hole in my chest when you’re done. Do you understand me? I’m not dying from this.”
Thankfully, after a second surgical procedure, Evangelista’s post-cancer care oncologist informed her that her current prognosis is “good.” However, she also revealed that her doctor had given her a “horrible oncotype score,” representing the risk of cancer recurrence. Despite this uncertainty, she chooses to celebrate each day and find value in the preciousness of life.
Notably, breast cancer diagnoses haven’t been the only health challenges Evangelista has faced in recent years. Two years ago, she revealed on Instagram that a “fat-freezing” procedure called CoolSculpting had left her “permanently deformed” and “brutally disfigured.” This adverse effect, known as paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, caused firm tissue masses to develop in the treated areas, leading to depression and reclusiveness.
As a result, Evangelista sued Zeltiq Aesthetics, the company behind CoolSculpting, for $50 million. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount in July 2022.
Despite these health setbacks, Evangelista has continued to work and recently appeared on the cover of British Vogue in 2022. Moreover, she will be featured in a new Apple TV+ documentary titled “The Super Models,” alongside other 90s-era supermodels such as Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, and Cindy Crawford. This upcoming project will reunite the four iconic women, who famously lip-synced in George Michael’s music video for “Freedom! ’90.”
Linda Evangelista’s journey serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience individuals can summon when faced with adversity. Her openness about her experiences brings awareness to the importance of early detection and the continued fight against breast cancer.