EastEnders star Kara Tointon shared a poignant health update on Tuesday’s episode of BBC Breakfast after undergoing a ‘daunting’ double mastectomy.
The actress, who underwent the serious surgery last year, appeared on the latest instalment of the show to chat to Jon Kay, 56, and Sally Nugent, 54, about making her return to stage after a five year break from acting.
After quizzing her about her new role in The Constant Wife, conversation turned to her health and she opened up to the hosts about how she is doing now.
The soap star, who played Dawn Swan in EastEnders, had surgery to remove both of her breasts, as well as her fallopian tubes, in May last year, after learning that she carries the deadly BRCA1 gene.
‘The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes usually protect us from cancer. A variant in either of these genes reduces the level of protection. Over time, this may mean some types of cancer are more likely to develop,’ according to Macmillan Cancer’s website.
Kara said on the latest episode of BBC show: ‘For me, this is right, and I can only speak about it in a kind of positive way, because it has been positive.
EastEnders star Kara Tointon shared a poignant health update on Tuesday’s episode of BBC Breakfast after undergoing a ‘daunting’ double mastectomy
The actress, who underwent the serious surgery last year, appeared on the latest instalment of the show to chat to Jon Kay, 56, and Sally Nugent, 54, about making her return to stage after a five year break from acting
‘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.’
Jon asked earlier on in the interview: ‘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.’
Kara told the hosts: ‘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.
‘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 over night. 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.’
Back in January Kara opened up about her health during an appearance on Good Morning Britain.
Kara Tointon delievered an emotional health update on Monday’s episode of Good Morning Britain after undergoing a double mastectomy
‘Losing my mum in 2019, and my auntie in early 2000s, there was this generation trauma within the women in my family, without even knowing it, my mum just put it off, she just didn’t want to know.
‘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.
‘My sister hasn’t got it, I have. My sister was so upset that she didn’t have it and I said “Are you kidding? Are you crazy?”
‘I think she just wanted us to go through this together, but of course, we have gone through it together because she’s held my hand every step of the way.’
Kara – who won the 2010 series of the BBC‘s Saturday night favourite Strictly Come Dancing – explained that the most difficult part of the process was making the call to book her first appointment.
She explained: ‘I think my message to people is, honestly making that first appointment and first call is the hardest part of the process.
‘Once you do that, you’ve done your bit and it’s left the the professionals.’
In a message to viewers, the actress added: ‘Don’t be scared, facing things actually is empowering.’
In May last year Kara shared her decision to have the operation with fans on Instagram.
The star took to her profile to share an emotional post detailing her decision after losing her mother to ovarian cancer in 2018.
Kara announced that she has undergone a double mastectomy and had her fallopian tubes removed as a preventative measure.
Her operation came just six years after her mother Carol passed away following her own battle with the disease.
As an ambassador for the Eve Appeal, a charity that raises awareness of gynaecological cancers, the actress opened up to her followers about the journey that led to her discovery that she carries the BRCA1 gene.
Speaking ahead of the charity’s Get Lippy campaign to highlight the causes and symptoms of various gynae cancers, Kara revealed that after she losing her mother to ovarian cancer in 2018, she underwent genetic testing which revealed that she is predisposed to the disease.
She said: ‘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.’
As a mother-of-two, Kara told how her family were her main consideration in her decision making.
She said: ‘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.’
Kara revealed that after having several medical investigations, she decided that surgery was the best option.
‘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,’ she said.
‘I wasn’t an easy decision, but one I am very glad that I made and I can now with hindsight talk about it properly.’
