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Cancer

Double Mastectomy: A Personal Decision to Reduce Cancer Risk

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Kara Tointon, an Eastenders actress, recently shared her personal experience of undergoing a double mastectomy after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene. She joins a growing number of women who are choosing to undergo preventative surgery to reduce their risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. One such woman is Grace Burton, 27, who underwent the same surgery after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene. Like Kara and Angelina Jolie, who had the surgery in 2013, Grace opted for implants to maintain the same breast size. Her surgery was performed at Guy's Hospital, where she was discharged on the same day.

Key Takeaways:

  • Kara Tointon and Grace Burton are two of the many women who have undergone double mastectomies after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene.
  • The BRCA1 gene increases the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, affecting around 5-10% of women with breast cancer.
  • The surgery can be a complex and personal decision, with many factors to consider, including the impact on fertility and body image.
  • Women who test positive for the BRCA1 gene are not only at risk of developing breast cancer but also ovarian cancer.
  • Studies have shown that women who undergo preventative surgery have a reduced risk of developing breast cancer, although the exact risk reduction is still being researched.

Statistics:

  • Around 5-10% of women with breast cancer are thought to carry an altered BRCA gene (Source: Breast Cancer Now).
  • Women who test positive for the BRCA1 gene have a higher-than-average risk of developing ovarian cancer (around 40-60%) and pancreatic cancer (around 20-30%) (Source: Breast Cancer Now).
  • Kara Tointon underwent a four-hour surgery at Guy's Hospital, where two surgeons operated on each breast simultaneously.
  • Topics:

Sources:

  • Breast Cancer Now (Source: More information can be found on breastcancernow.org)
  • "If you discover that you do indeed have a higher risk of developing cancer because of the BRCA gene, she said, 'Choosing whether to have risk-reducing surgery is an incredibly complex and personal decision, and it's important that people are supported and can discuss all their options with a healthcare professional before making any decisions.'" Louise Grimsdell, senior clinical nurse specialist at Breast Cancer Now.

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