Kelly Killoren Bensimon Admits Fear Kept Her From Getting Breast Scan Despite Family’s History of Cancer

Kelly Bensimon is encouraging women not to let their fear keep them from getting screened after a health scare forced her to face one of her biggest worries.

The Golden Life star, 58, recently admitted to Star that she put off having a breast scan despite having a family history of cancer because she was terrified of what the doctors might find.

“I have had a lot of cancer in my family. My mother died of pancreatic cancer, and my grandmother died of breast [and] ovarian [cancer],” Bensimon said. “You would think I’d be like, ‘Let me get tested,’ but I’m the opposite. I’m like, ‘I have two girls. If anything ever happened to me, what would I do?'”

Bensimon’s perspective changed after she noticed changes in her breasts following weight loss with a GLP-1 medication. Concerned, she visited her plastic surgeon, Dr. David Shafer, who discovered one of the breast implants she received in 2009 from a different surgeon had ruptured and needed to be removed immediately.

“He was like, ‘This has to come out right now,'” Bensimon explained to the publication.

During the three-hour surgery, doctors also found a buildup of cartilage and tested her breast tissue for cancer, which left her anxiously awaiting the results during a difficult recovery.

“It was a really, really difficult time,” Bensimon recalled. “While you’re resting, you’re thinking, ‘Do I have something? Am I going to be OK?'”

Thankfully, the results came back negative.

Looking back, Bensimon said working with Maimonides Breast Center inspired her to finally schedule the screening she had been avoiding.

“There’s nothing wrong with having fear,” she said. “But at some point you’re going to have to get tested.”

Now, the former Real Housewives of New York City star said that she’s feeling “really, really good,” and she hopes her story reminds other women to pay attention to changes in their bodies and seek medical care instead of putting it off.

“I’ve been through a lot,” she told Star. “I’m very grateful to be where I am today. I’m so grateful to be feeling so good.”