My mother died at the age of 56 after a nearly 10-year battle with cancer. She struggled to hold on until she got her first few grandchildren and held them in her arms. But my other children did not have the opportunity to know her or to know how loving and affectionate their grandmother was. We often talked about “Mama’s Mama” together, and it took a lot of effort for me to tell them what kind of disease had taken her from us. They used to ask me if I was going to have the same disease. I kept telling the kids not to worry, but the truth is that I carry the “faulty” gene, BRCA1, which dramatically increases my risk of breast and ovarian cancer. My doctors predict that my risk of breast cancer is 87% and my risk of ovarian cancer is 50%, although the probability of risk varies for each woman. Only a small percentage of breast cancers are caused by inherited genetic mutations. On average, people with BRCA1 deficiency have a 65% risk of developing breast cancer. Once I realized that this was the reality I was facing, I immediately decided to be proactive and reduce my risk of developing the disease as much as possible. I made the decision to undergo a preventive double mastectomy. I chose to start with my breasts because my risk of developing breast cancer was higher than ovarian cancer and the procedure was more complicated. On April 27, I completed my three-month mastectomy treatment. During this time I ensured my privacy while continuing to work. But I’m writing about it now because I hope other women will benefit from my experience. “Cancer” is still a frightening word that can make you feel deeply powerless. But now, you can get a blood test to find out if you are susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer and take action. My treatment began on February 2 with what is called a “nipple-sparing procedure,” which clears the milk ducts below the nipple and increases the blood supply to the area. The treatment is a little painful and leaves a lot of bruising, but it increases the likelihood that both nipples will be preserved. Two weeks later I underwent the most major surgery to remove the breast tissue and temporarily place a filler. The surgery can take up to eight hours. When you wake up you will find drains and expanders left in both breasts. It makes it feel like a scene from a science fiction movie. But a few days after the surgery, your life can go back to normal. Nine weeks later, I underwent my final surgery to reconstruct both breasts with implants. There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years and the final “finished” breasts are very beautiful. I write this to tell other women that the decision to have both breasts removed was not an easy one to make. But I’m glad I did. My risk of breast cancer has dropped from 87% to less than 5%. Now I can tell my children that they don’t have to worry about their mom dying of breast cancer. The kids don’t see any changes that make them uncomfortable, and that’s a relief to me. They can see the small scars on my body, and that’s it. Other than that, it was the same mom, exactly the same. They know that I love them and would do anything to be with them as long as possible. On a personal level, I don’t feel less of a woman, but rather, I feel empowered by the fact that I made a decision to be strong and not compromise my femininity at all. I’m glad I have Brad Pitt. Pitt (Brad Pitt), a partner who is so loyal and always there for me. So, if your wife or girlfriend is experiencing the same thing, know that you have a very important role to play in this phase of transition. The hospital where I was treated was Pink Lotus Breast Center, and Brad didn’t leave halfway through every minute of my surgery. We laughed out loud together. We both knew it was the right thing to do for our families and that it would bring us closer together. And it did. For the women reading this article, I hope it helps you understand that you have options. I want to encourage all women, especially those with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to be proactive in seeking out information and medical experts to help you get through this point in your life and make your own informed decision. Many excellent holistic physicians are looking for alternative options to surgery. My personal treatment plan will be posted on the Pink Lotus Breast Center website when appropriate. I hope this will be useful to other women. According to the World Health Organization, about 458,000 people die of breast cancer each year, mostly in low- to middle-income countries. It is imperative that we ensure that more women – regardless of their economic status or background and wherever they are – have access to genetic testing and preventive treatment that can save their lives. In the United States, the cost of testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 is more than $3,000, which is still a major barrier for many women. I decided to speak to the public about my experience because there are many women who are unaware that they may be living with cancer. I hope that they will also be genetically tested and, if the test results show that they are in the higher risk group, they should know that there are still very reliable ways for them to get tested. Life will always present you with a myriad of challenges. There are challenges that we can rise to and take the initiative, and only then will we not be afraid.