Kara Tointon has double mastectomy after most cancers gene check

Former EastEnders actress Kara Tointon has revealed she has undergone a double mastectomy following a gene check.

The 41-year-old, additionally identified for her work in dramas together with The Teacher and Mr Selfridge, revealed that checks confirmed she carried the BRCA gene – which may put her at very excessive danger of most cancers.

Tointon, from Basildon in Essex, posted an Instagram video on Wednesday to lift consciousness of the preventative measure she had taken.

She mentioned: “You could have heard of the BRCA genes 1 and a pair of and as a provider it means I’m at a better danger of each breast and ovarian most cancers.”

In 2018, the cleaning soap star mentioned she was requested to take a genetics check when her mom Carol was present process remedy for ovarian most cancers.

She is working with gynaecological most cancers charity the Eve Appeal, of which she is an envoy.

“There is a historical past of each cancers in my household on my mom’s facet, however for numerous causes, together with generational trauma of which I’ll discuss extra about one other time, we hadn’t appeared into it till that time,” she mentioned.

“But it was put to us, we took the check, and it was confirmed that my mum and I each carried the gene.”

Ms Tointon’s mom died in 2019.

“Last yr, having had my second son in 2021 and deciding that our household was full, I underwent two preventative surgical procedures,” she mentioned.

“The first a double mastectomy and the second a two-part protector research, a trial.

“They consider that ovarian most cancers begins within the fallopian tubes so by eradicating them first, checking them out, you then take away the ovaries later, and nearer to menopause,” she added.

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie underwent a double mastectomy after she found she carried the BRCA1 gene, resulting in better consciousness of the gene defect.

Around one in 1,000 girls throughout the UK have a BRCA1 variant, however most breast and ovarian cancers occur as a result of probability harm to genes.

After a number of checks, together with biopsies and MRIs, Tointon mentioned: “I made a decision that this was the fitting choice for me and my household.

“It wasn’t a straightforward choice, however one I’m very glad and fortunate I made, and I can now, with hindsight, discuss it correctly.”