Samantha takes brave option of breast surgery

The young mother of two from Shropshire took the courageous step of deciding to undergo a preventative double mastectomy to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer.

Like Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie, who yesterday revealed she had undergone the procedure, Samantha was found to be carrying the "faulty" BRCA1 gene which increases the risk of ovarian and breast cancer.

Samantha, who lives in Telford, said she was stunned by the discovery in 2011 – as she had inherited the gene from her paternal side.

She was due to undergo the surgery last month, but it had to be cancelled. She is now waiting for a new date to be set.

Mum to two little girls – Jessie, 9, and Isabelle, 4, Samantha, now 27, lives in Little Dawley with her partner Sean Haines.

She said she underwent genetic testing when her aunt was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008.

Her aunt took part in trials and was found to have the BRCA1 gene.

"I did not know about it at that time. My dad was tested and he arranged for me and my brother to see a genetics counsellor. I was 25."

The results of the tests revealed she had an 80 per cent risk of breast cancer and 60 per cent risk of ovarian cancer.

"When the results came back, I was in a bit of shock.

"My dad had had cancer before, non hodgkin's lymphoma, but nothing linked to this gene," she said.

"When I was waiting for the results, I had it in my head that if I did have the gene, I would go for the surgery.

"Since I had the results, I was referred to a gynaecologist and the breast team at the Princess Royal Hospital."

Samantha also had to see a psychologist as her decision meant she would be undergoing major surgery at a young age.

"The first few weeks I was scared.

"But then I looked at it in a more positive way, that I can actually do something about it," said Samantha, a shop floor assistant for Asda. "I thought I have got to do it.

"I could carry on as I am and wait to be diagnosed and then explain to my children that I have got this and that I could have done something about it, or I can get it done now."

But Samantha says she is not being brave, just taking "the easy way out". "The women that have got breast cancer are the brave ones. I am doing what I need to do."

The surgery will last about four to five hours and includes reconstruction. Both nipples are being removed as there is a chance the gene could be within the tissue, she says.

Samantha has the full support of her partner and of her parents.

"Sean has been with me every step of the way. He has been very good. And my parents are fully behind me.

"My dad keeps fighting for me to get the operation and my mum thinks I am amazing."

Samantha said Angelina Jolie's decision to go public with her double mastectomy at the age of 37 was a good thing.

The actress said she had written about her ordeal in the hope that other women might benefit from her experience.

The Tomb Raider star, whose mother had cancer and died at the age of 56, underwent three months of medical procedures which finished on April 27.

"I think it is a good thing and I think she is fab," said Samantha.

She said that if anyone had any worries before or after the test, they should contact the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline founded by Wendy Watson.

Wendy also praised Jolie for her decision to write publicly about her operation.

"It is excellent, because it is the highest profile you can get for it," she said.

"It raises the profile for other women to look to see if they have a family history and would benefit from being screened more frequently, or having surgery or having a genetic test," she said.

"She (Jolie) probably feels that under going the operation is common sense but it probably does take a certain amount of courage to face it."