Model Bianca Balti was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 40

Bianca Balti is ready to open up about her ovarian cancer diagnosis.

The 40 year old Sports illustrated Swimsuit model shared a health update with her followers on Sunday, September 15, after voluntarily going to the hospital.

“Last Sunday I checked myself into the ER to find out that my lower abdominal pain was stage 3C ovarian cancer,” Balti wrote via Instagram. “It was a week full of fear, pain and tears, but most of all love, hope, laughter and strength. (check out these photos for proof, lol).”

Despite her diagnosis, Balti seemed in good spirits as she shared selfies with healthcare workers and loved ones who visited her in the hospital.

“I have a long journey ahead of me, but I know I will beat this,” her post continued. “For myself, my loved ones (my daughters are at the top of the list), and all of you who need strength, you can borrow some from me, because I have a lot.”

According to the Mayo ClinicOvarian cancer is described as a cell growth that forms in the ovaries. The cells multiply rapidly and can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. Treatment usually includes surgery and chemotherapy.

“Life happens; give it a reason,” Balti said when sharing her diagnosis. “So far, cancer has given me the opportunity to find beauty through life’s obstacles.”

In a series of Instagram Stories posted on Monday, September 16, Balti shared photos of her mother delivering sunflowers and her friends visiting with snacks from Erewhon.

She also thanked fans for all their support as she embarks on a new health chapter. “Grazie per tutti i messageggi,” she wrote in Italian, which translates to: “Thank you for all your messages.”

This isn’t the first time Balti has made her health a priority. At the end of 2022, the model discovered that she is a carrier of the BRCA1 gene. She discovered that she had a 50 percent chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer and a 30 percent chance of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

As a result, she underwent a preventive double mastectomy in December 2022.

“I wasn’t sick yet, but I knew there was a much greater chance that I would be one day,” she said Fashion in March. “I now had the free will to do something about it.”

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Many celebrities have spoken out about their personal battles with breast cancer over the years. Julia Louis-Dreyfus made her breast cancer diagnosis public via Instagram in September 2017. Nearly a year later, she had successfully overcome the disease and returned to work at Veep. ‘It sounds a bit corny, but there’s something about ‘na’ […]

Just weeks before her latest diagnosis, Balti shared how special the past few months have been for her.

Whether she enjoys tropical vacations with her two daughters or works with world-famous brands such as Montblanc and Havaianas x Dolce & Gabbana, the Italian model made it clear that: “It only gets better.”

“Goodbye summer!” she wrote via Instagram on September 1. “God only knows how good you have been to me ✈️🌅🧳🚢🏝️👯‍♀️💘🪩💃🕺📚⛱️☀️ #bestsummerofmylife.”