8 Celebrities Who Have Survived Skin Cancer

Christie Brinkley

Christie Brinkley, now 71 (which is hard to believe), is famous for her radiant, smooth skin. That’s all the more reason it was important when she announced her basil cell carcinoma skin cancer diagnosis on the TODAY show last year.

Her diagnosis actually came from a dermatologist visit with her daughter. At the appointment, Brinkley herself pointed out a small spot on her forehead to the doctor. Upon looking at it, the dermatologist ordered a biopsy, and it came back positive.

On her TODAY appearance, Brinkley emphasized the importance of regular skin checks at a dermatologist’s office (it’s also key to watch any moles or spots on the skins that appear to change size, shape or color over time).

Khloé Kardashian

The youngest of the three older Kardashian-Jenner sisters candidly opened up about her 2022 skin cancer diagnosis that came from what she thought was a run-of-the-mill blemish. (It just looked like a small red spot on her cheek.)

Because she had a prior history with melanoma, she had it checked and then the tumor removed. Later, she revealed that she had the small divet in her cheek filled so it looked as smooth as prior to her diagnosis.

“I never imagined that this tiny spec would turn into skin cancer, and I can’t fathom what could have possibly happened had I not gone to the doctor to get it looked at,” Kardashian wrote on her Instagram Story at the time. “Paying attention to our skin and changes in our skin and our body, no matter how small, is so important.”

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

Sarah Ferguson, also known as the Dutchess of York and Fergie, happened to have her skin cancer detected in a roundabout way. In 2023, after a breast cancer diagnosis, Ferguson had a mastectomy and then reconstructive surgery a few months later.

During the reconstructive surgery in January 2024, doctors spotted a mole near her lymph nodes that dermatologists analyzed and found it had malignant cells. She was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in early 2024, but a source close to Ferguson told People magazine that the cancerous cells didn’t end up spreading to her lymph nodes or elsewhere.

Ariana Madix

Vanderpump Rules star and Dancing with the Stars alum Ariana Madix has been booked and busy these past few years. However, a couple years back, she had a health scare.

Madix noted a dark spot on her chest that she thought was just a small mole or birthmark. It turned out to be stage I melanoma.

“I’m so glad that I went [to the doctor] that day because it was not benign,” Madix told Bravo TV. A surgeon removed the affected skin and a small amount of her lymph notes, and she became a skin cancer survivor.

Madix refers to herself as that “annoying friend” who gives others a heads up about skin checks, but her platform also allows her to raise more awareness about regularly visiting the dermatologist.

Melanie Griffith

Melanie Griffith, an actress who also happens to be the mother of Fifty Shades star Dakota Johnson, has used her life in the spotlight to draw attention to her two melanoma diagnoses.

Griffith had an early skin cancer bout near her eye in 2009, which left her with a bruised, swollen eye from the procedure, and then experienced a skin cancer recurrence in 2017. She was open about the fact that she should have been more vigilant about wearing sunscreen, which could have potentially prevented her diagnosis.

Diane Keaton

It’s hard to believe there was a time before Diane Keaton was famous, considering she’s been a working actress for over 50 years. But before she was well-known, at age 21, Keaton found out she had skin cancer. Her diagnosis was basil cell carcinoma, the most common variety.

Keaton did an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 2015, explaining that she had a recurrence of another type of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and needed a couple of surgeries to remove the cancerous cells. She detailed the seriousness of sun care for her and her loved ones, given that she has a family history of skin cancer. (In fact, people speculate that Keaton often wears a hat at red carpet events to protect her skin from the sun.)

Rosie O’Donnell

In late 2024, talk show and comedy icon Rosie O’Donnell took to Instagram to post a photo of a small “bump” near her eye that turned out to be basil cell carcinoma.

Her reason for sharing was to show how small (a rather tiny red bump) skin cancer can be—in this case, hardly noticeable. Her experience serves as an important reminder that it’s essential to get your skin checked regularly and don’t ignore any new or newly shaped or colored moles.

Teddi Mellencamp

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and daughter of musician John Cougar Mellencamp, Teddi Mellencamp, 43, happens to have a severe form of melanoma, stage IV.

She did a raw interview recently with Us Weekly to talk about her melanoma diagnosis, which has metastasized to her brain and lungs. All of this happened around the same time as her divorce from partner Edwin Arroyave.

Mellencamp is continuing to treat her cancer with surgery, radiation and immunotherapy, telling USA Today “I’m feeling positive” about her ongoing journey.