‘No Dead Bodies!’ Jill Zarin, 58, Runs Into Former Foe And RHONY Co-Star, Cancer Survivor Bethenny Frankel, 51, On A Recent Flight And Avoids Fighting

While the 51-year-old Frankel was once a close friend of Zarin’s, the fracturing of their relationship was a major plot point in season three.

"There were no dead bodies when we got off and that was a good thing," Zarin said. "No turbulence."

In fact, Zarin said she was "excited" to see her former co-star.

"I was excited to catch up so that was a good thing."

Zarin, who was appearing with Dorinda Medley and Brandi Glanville to promote the premier of Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Ex-Wives Club didn’t rule out a future return of Frankel to the franchise.

"I think for her it’s just got to be the right sort of situation set-up," said Medley. "I don’t know, but never say never…. I don’t know where it fits in with the other projects she’s doing… but you can’t take away this from Bethenny Frankel: she is great TV."

Zarin said a possible return had come up during their flight but said she would "leave it on the plane."

"I don’t wanna, you know, say anything that would affect what might happen or could happen."

Frankel’s Skin Cancer Journey

Frankel’s tiffs with her fellow reality stars was nothing compared to when she discovered she had a form of skin cancer.
"I had a growth on my face that was enlarging. I guessed it to be a basal cell carcinoma and had it lanced and removed," Frankel told PEOPLE in 2017. "The doctor confirmed it is indeed basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, and says while it is cancer, I am lucky to have it removed so it won't affect my overall health."

As part of her treatment, Frankel underwent Mohs surgery, in which thin lawyers of skin cancer tissue are removed, followed by a cosmetic procedure for any scarring.

"You're able to remove a very conservative margin around the cancer and study it in essentially real-time," Dr. Sumaira Aasi, a Professor of Dermatology and Director of Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery at Stanford, previously told SurvivorNet. "And we continue to repeat the process until the cancer is out."

After treatment, Frankel was cancer-free and became an advocate for skin protection.

"I am extremely lucky to have caught it in time, and it just goes to show you have to know your body and be very aware of any changes," she said. "This was a sharp reminder why it is so important that I religiously wear large hats to cover my face and reapply sunscreen.

"Always make sure to rub in spray-on sunscreen on your kids spraying it on by itself doesn't cover them enough. Apply it thoroughly every two hours and check the expiration dates as sunscreen does expire; and sit in the shade whenever possible."

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in America, and an estimated 20 per cent of Americans will be diagnosed with some form of it during their lifetime. Exposure to UV rays, including through sunlight and indoor tanning, is one of the leading causes.

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