Former EastEnders star Kara Tointon has delivered an emotional and candid health update, revealing she underwent a preventative double mastectomy last year after discovering she carries the high-risk BRCA1 gene.
A Preventative Decision Driven by Family History
The 41-year-old actress appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Monday, speaking to hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls about her decision to have surgery in May 2023. Tointon explained she had both breasts and her fallopian tubes removed after genetic testing confirmed she carries a faulty BRCA1 gene variant.
This gene significantly increases the lifetime risk of developing both breast and ovarian cancer. Her decision was profoundly influenced by the loss of her mother, Carol, to ovarian cancer in 2019, and her aunt in the early 2000s.
"We're living in a time where we're so lucky to become aware of personal genetics, and there's a choice in that," Tointon told the GMB hosts. She described a "generational trauma" within the women in her family, recalling that her mother "always believed she was going to die of cancer" but had not known about the genetic link.
The Journey from Diagnosis to Surgery
Tointon, an ambassador for gynaecological cancer charity The Eve Appeal, first took a genetic test in 2018 while her mother was undergoing treatment. The test confirmed both she and her mother carried the faulty BRCA1 gene. While everyone has BRCA genes, a faulty variant reduces their protective function against cancer.
After having her two sons, Frey, now 6, and Helly, 4, with partner Marius Jensen, and deciding her family was complete, Tointon opted for preventative surgeries. She described the choice as a "no-brainer" given her family history. She emphasised that the hardest part was making the first appointment, urging others: "Don't be scared, facing things actually is empowering."
Interestingly, her sister tested negative for the faulty gene. "My sister was so upset that she didn't have it and I said 'Are you kidding? Are you crazy?'" Tointon shared, noting her sister had wanted to go through the experience together but had supported her every step of the way.
Understanding the BRCA Gene and Preventative Measures
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes produce proteins that help suppress tumours. A harmful mutation in either gene dramatically increases cancer risk. According to Macmillan Cancer Support, a BRCA1 mutation can raise a woman's lifetime risk of breast cancer to up to 90% and ovarian cancer to around 44%, compared to 12% and 1.3% respectively in the general population.
Tointon's surgeries included a double mastectomy and a two-part procedure to remove her fallopian tubes, as evidence suggests ovarian cancer often begins there. She thanked her surgeons, Dr Adam Rosenthal and Dr Gerard Cuie, and highlighted the support from the NHS and The Eve Appeal.
She joins other public figures, like Angelina Jolie, in speaking openly about preventative surgery due to BRCA mutations. Tointon hopes that by sharing her story, she can help others feel less alone, stating: "Knowledge is power, communication is key."
