EastEnders legend Kara Tointon has shared a huge update after the actress underwent a double, as well as having her fallopian tubes removed last year
Kara Tointon has shared a huge health update(Image: BBC screengrab)
Kara Tointon has shared a major update after undergoing a double mastectomy. The former EastEnders star, known for playing Dawn Swan in the BBC soap opera last year, had both breasts removed, as well as her fallopian tubes, after discovering she carried the deadly BRCA1 gene.
The actress, 42, lost her mother to ovarian cancer in 2019. At the time, the star said it was the “right decision” for herself and her family to undergo the major surgery.
Now, during an appearance on BBC Breakfast alongside anchors Jon Kay, 56, and Sally Nugent, 54, Kara explained that her entire experience had been “positive” after making the decision. “For me, this is right, and I can only speak about it in a kind of positive way, because it has been positive,” she said.
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Kara continued: “And I’m on the other side and sort of flying the flag for people to get checked and get to know their bodies and talk more, because communication is key.” Anchor Jon asked earlier in their chat: “Having had a break for five years, been through the surgery, losing your mum as we were saying, does it feel like you can take control of your life again?
“You’re back where you are happy – on the stage.” Responding, Kara said: “Last year I decided to talk about the BRCA gene, it was because I worked quite closely with the Eve Appeal, an amazing charity, they were coming up to Get Lippy month last May, they had asked, when I was ready, would I discuss it?
“Obviously that was quite daunting, as it happens I was ready to talk about it and I knew that people who had spoken about it when I was going through my journey, it comforted me, it helped so much, I wanted to do the same. I am really glad I have. The response was overwhelming. Really the message was, I didn’t think I would take such a dramatic route, I guess.”
She added: “At first I was happy with surveillance, we’re so lucky with these genetic mutations, now we’re getting to know more about personal genetics and surveillance suits a lot of people very well. But for me, finding things, having lots of biopsies, different tests all the time, having two young children, I just took the decision that it was the right move for me.
“But it doesn’t happen overnight. You’re invited to lots of meetings. You have to think it through, everyone has a different choice to make, depending on their lifestyle and who they are.”
Macmillan states that the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes often protect us from cancer. They add that a variant in either of the genes reduces the level of protection and, over time, means that some types of cancer are more likely to develop.
Speaking previously, Kara explained that after losing her mum in 2019 and her auntie in the Noughties, there was “generation trauma within the women in my family,” and without having known about it previously, her own mother wouldn’t have wanted to know.
Kara told Susanna Reid and Ed Balls: “She always believed she was going to die of cancer, but didn’t know about the gene, but it was just there. For me to be given the opportunity to make a choice and see what it’s done to my family, in all honesty, it was a no-brainer for me. So it’s very kind when people say ‘Goodness, you’ve been brave’.
‘I suppose I’ve had a lucky shot. Everyone has the BRCA gene, but some people have the gene that’s faulty, and it’s a 50 per cent chance that it is passed down.” Despite having no regrets, Kara previously said that making the call to book her first appointment was the most daunting part of the experience.
For more information or support about ovarian cancer, you can contact Macmillan Cancer Support.
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