She opened up after disclosing that she had undergone surgery last year.
Former Strictly Come Dancing champion and EastEnders actress Kara Tointon has shared an update on her health following a double mastectomy.
The 42-year-old, best known for playing Dawn Swann on EastEnders, won the Strictly crown in 2010 alongside professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev.
In May of last year, Kara revealed that she had undergone a double mastectomy and a bilateral salpingectomy after testing positive for the BRCA gene mutation. Her decision was influenced by the tragic death of her mother, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2018. Speaking on social media, Kara explained that undergoing genetic testing was “the right decision for me and my family.”
Appearing on Good Morning Britain today with Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, Kara said: “We’re living in a time where we’re fortunate to have insight into our personal genetics, and with that comes choice — though sometimes it can feel daunting, and you might wish you didn’t know,” according to Wales Online.
Reflecting on the loss of her mother and aunt, and dealing with the “generational trauma” experienced by the women in her family, Kara revealed that her mum “always believed” she would die from cancer.
“For me, being given the chance to make that choice and see how it affected my family was a no-brainer,” she added.
“I’ve been lucky. Everyone has the BRCA gene, but some people carry a faulty version, and there’s a 50 percent chance it can be passed down.”
“My sister doesn’t have it, but I do. She was so upset she didn’t, because she wanted us to go through it together… but in a way, we have gone through it together, because she was there holding my hand every step of the way.”
Kara admitted that the “hardest part of the process” was making that very first phone call to book an appointment. “I couldn’t even talk about it at the time because it felt like such a big deal,” she said.
Offering advice to her followers, she added: “Don’t be afraid — facing these things can actually be empowering.”
In an Instagram clip shared last year, Kara explained: “You may have heard of the BRCA genes, types 1 and 2. Being a carrier means I am at a higher risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.
“Back in 2018, while my mum was undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer, I was asked to take a genetic test.
“There is a history of both cancers in my family, but for various reasons — including generational trauma, which I’ll discuss more another time — we hadn’t explored it until then.”
She continued: “We decided to take the test, and it confirmed that both my mum and I carry the gene. At the time, I was pregnant with my first child and knew I wanted more, so over the following years I attended several NHS meetings to fully understand the situation and explore all my options.”
“Last year, after having my second son in 2021 and feeling that our family was complete, I underwent two preventative surgeries. The first was a double mastectomy, and the second was a two-part protective procedure as part of a trial.
“They believe ovarian cancer often starts in the fallopian tubes, so removing them first allows for the ovaries to be removed later if needed.”
Wrapping up her video, she said: “It wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s one I’m very glad I made. Looking back, I can now talk about it properly.”
She added: “I wanted to share my experience because hearing others’ stories was so helpful for me. Knowledge is power, communication is key, and getting to know ourselves — our bodies, our cycles — is always a positive thing.”
Her openness was met with an outpouring of support from fans. One follower wrote: “Amazing that you’ve shared your story. I’m sorry you’ve been through such a difficult journey and made such brave choices. You’re a wonderful ambassador, and I’m sure you’ll inspire and educate many. Sending love xx.”
Another admirer commented: “Huge respect for you for sharing your story and making such courageous decisions.”
A third added: “Thank you for sharing this. It’s something that has affected the women in my family, and I’ve seen how devastating it can be. Thank you for being so brave and inspiring.”
Another fan wrote: “Hey lovely lady, sending you so much love xxxx. It’s amazing that you’ve brought this into the open. I hope you’re healing well, my love.”
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