Former EastEnders actress Kara Tointon has shared the news that she’s undergone preventative surgery after discovering she carries the mutated BRCA gene.
Kara explained that, as a result, she has already undergone a double mastectomy and had her fallopian tubes removed.
The actress, who once dated Joe Swash, is 41 years old and a mother of two.
Kara Tointon shares preventative surgery news
Kara explained that she discovered she was a carrier of the gene while her mum was battling ovarian cancer. Her mum sadly died in 2018.
While she was having treatment, Kara underwent genetic testing. And, while pregnant with her first child, she learnt that she was also a carrier of the mutated gene. The actress revealed that she wanted to have another child. So, following the birth of her second baby, she made a decision that was right for her and her family.
Kara shares sons Frey, five, Helly, three, with fiancé Marius Jenson.
‘I was asked to take a genetics test’
Speaking as part of the Eve Appeal’s Get Lippy Month, Kara shared the news of her surgery.
“You may have heard of the BRCA genes type 1 and 2. And as a carrier it means that I am at a greater risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. Back in 2018 when my mum was undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer, I was asked to take a genetics test.
“There is a history of both cancers in my family. But for various reasons including generational trauma of which I’ll talk more about another time, we hadn’t looked into it until that point. But it was put to us, we took the test. And it was confirmed that my mum and I both carried the gene.”
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‘I underwent two preventative surgeries’
She then continued: “I was pregnant with my first child at the time, knew I wanted more children if possible. So over the next couple of years I was invited to various meetings by the NHS to really become informed and to understand all my options.
“Last year, having had my second son in 2021 and deciding that our family was complete, I underwent two preventative surgeries.
“The first a double mastectomy and the second a two part protector study, a trial. They believe that ovarian cancer begins in the fallopian tubes so by removing them first checking out you can remove the ovaries later, closer to menopause.”
Kara concluded her post by saying: “We are finding out more and more about personal genetics and most people believe in surveillance. But after doing this for a couple of years, having MRIs, waiting for biopsy, we decided that this was the right decision for me and my family.
“I wasn’t an easy decision. But it’s one I am very glad that I made. I can now with hindsight talk about it properly.”
Michelle Heaton and Angelina Jolie have also undergone similar surgeries after finding out they carry the mutated gene.
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