Felt fear for first time after cancer diagnosis: Janice Dickinson

London: Model Janice Dickinson has opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis, saying she felt "fear" for the first time in her life when she received the news. EFF

The 61-year-old model, who disclosed her health condition last week, "lost it" when doctors confirmed a lump in her breast was cancerous because her own mother had died from a form of the disease, reported Female First.

Opening up about her shock diagnosis, she said, "It's shocking, everything hit me at once. My mother died of cancer, so I know how bad I felt when I heard about my mother... lately I'm tearful because I felt fear for the first time. And I don't get scared. I kind of lost it."

Dickinson has a common form of breast cancer known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and when she found out, her first thoughts were for her son Nathan, 28, daughter Savannah, 22, and 68-year-old fiance Robert 'Rocky' Gerner.

"My son broke down. Honestly haven't cried in about 30 years... I want to see my daughter walk down the aisle and I want grandchildren, and I want to get married with Rocky, my fiance, who's a doctor."

But despite her fear, the model has vowed to "fight" the disease and admitted she went public to warn other women to get their breasts regularly checked.

"I'm a fighter. I'm not the type of woman to fall apart but it's nothing to downplay. I'm doing this for all women, please sisters have regular breast examinations. I can be emotional and happy and sad and afraid but I'm not alone. I now await surgery."