Sallie

My bilateral (double) mastectomy was preventative and, in my view, absolutely necessary. With my mum and sister both dying from breast cancer at such young ages (34 and 24) I had concerns that, at the age of 34, I was also at risk.

As I had no surviving female relatives to test my blood against (and other tests would have been inconclusive), the genetics team at the Royal Marsden worked out risk assessment based on my family history. I was advised that I had a 33.3% risk over my lifetime of getting breast cancer and, having two small children (aged 1 and 4), I felt that eradicating that risk was a no-brainer.

The surgery was a hugely emotional and physical journey and is certainly not for the fainthearted, however the overwhelming feeling I had the moment I came round was immense relief - the risk had been taken away.

A year and ½ after the initial surgery and reconstruction, I can live my life to the full without wondering if one day I will also be at the mercy of breast cancer. It’s the best and smartest decision I have ever made.

I feel like I’ve been able to make an informed and positive choice and taken control of my destiny. It’s my hope that others in a similar situation will be able to have that choice too.