'Bachelorette' alum Ali Fedotowsky urges fans to get checked after skin cancer diagnosis
Ali Fedotowsky-Manno, star of 2010's "The Bachelorette," is urging fans to get themselves checked after opening up about her skin cancer diagnosis.
"GET YOUR SKIN CHECKED. A couple weeks ago I found out I have skin cancer," the 35-year-old said Thursday on Instagram. "When my dermatologist used the c-word, I just about fainted in his office."
In an interview with "Good Morning America," the "Bachelorette" star is calling attention to skin cancer and revealed how she wasn't always so attentive.
"Not only did I go on tanning beds, not only did I lay out at the beach with no sunscreen, I was putting baby oil all over my body," said Fedotowsky. "And I think now as an adult and now that I'm a parent especially, I care about my health so much more because I have two little people that are depending on me."
Despite the news, the mother of two is remaining positive and told her fans on Instagram, "Thankfully, the type of skin cancer I have is rarely fatal and really never fatal when you catch it early."
Fedotowsky went on to explain that she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. According to dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe, basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer and is highly treatable since it rarely metastaizes.
In an Instagram post, the Bachelorette urged her followers to look at her mole before the biopsy, so they "know what to look for."
"Basal cell carcinoma is super common. The most common skin cancer. You probably know someone who has it. So it's no big deal," she said. "But what IS a big deal is not treating it and treating it early. That is why going to a dermatologist and getting your skin checked every year is SO important."
She also mentioned that getting your skin checked by a doctor is simple.
"It's the easiest thing ever. You pop in, they examine your body. And then if anything looks a little weird, they will do a biopsy, send it off for testing," she told "GMA."
Now, the former Bachelorette has vowed to never expose her stomach to the sun without sunscreen again and used her platform to educate fans about her diagnosis and what they can do to prevent it, like using sunscreen and being mindful of what products are used on the skin.
Fedotowsky makes sure that her kids are wearing sunscreen, too.
"Sunscreen now is so important to me," she said. "My kids never leave home without it."
Fedotowsky competed on 2010's "The Bachelor," but left after receiving an ultimatum from Facebook, where she was employed. She returned as "The Bachelorette" later that year and became engaged to Roberto Martinez. They broke up a year later.
After meeting TV host Kevin Manno in 2013, the two became engaged and later wed in 2017. They have two kids together, Molly and Riley.
