A minor stomach ailment may have saved Janice Dickinson’s life. Earlier this month, the former supermodel went in because she felt unwell. When her doctor decided to do a full-body examination, he discovered a pea-sized lump on her right breast. A subsequent mammogram and biopsy showed that she was suffering from early stage ductal carcinoma in situ, a common form of breast cancer that starts in the milk ducts.

In spite of the nightmarish dream she said she’s been living since receiving her diagnosis, the self-proclaimed “world’s first supermodel” has vowed to battle the disease and beat it. Her doctors have already laid out a treatment plan, which will include radiation and surgery.

“Just two weeks ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer; it's hard for me to say this, but I have been diagnosed with breast cancer,” Dickinson told Daily Mail Online in a tearful interview. “It's still quite shocking. Today I got very scared ... I just get very scared and it hit me. But I am not gonna let that define me, the fear. I'm going to get through this, I'll be just fine kiddo.”

Dickinson, who has been in the news recently for accusing comedian Bill Cosby of rape, hopes her reveal will help raise awareness and inspire other women to get checked early and often. She plans on documenting her battle against the condition on the TV series The Doctors starting April 6. Around 60,000 women are diagnosed with this form of the disease each year in the United States, representing one in every five breast cancer cases. It is not considered life-threatening because it rarely spreads beyond the milk duct.

“I'm Janice Dickinson and I'm gonna stick around for a long, long time. You ain't getting rid of me yet,” Dickinson added.