Jade Power underwent the surgical procedure after discovering she had a 71% chance of getting breast cancer
An underwear model opted for a voluntary double mastectomy after discovering she had a heightened risk of breast cancer. Jade Power is now back in the modelling world following reconstructive surgery – and claims she feels sexier than ever.
The 30-year-old discovered she carried the cancer-linked ‘PALB2’ gene while pregnant, upping her risk of breast cancer to a worrying 71%. So, after a nine-month wait to breast feed her child, she underwent a risk-reducing surgery, and now feels ‘blessed’.
“When I made the decision to have the surgery I couldn’t find anyone who was positive about it- I want to be that positive voice for others,” she said. “I worried that I might never be able to wear beautiful bras again, but I feel genuinely blessed.
“Having the double mastectomy was a 100% certain decision for me, but I worried I might feel less feminine – I can safely say now that I feel 100% a woman still.” Jade learned about her cancer risk after her sister, Donna Power, now 41, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 when Jade was 27.
A test revealed that both women carry the Brca-related gene PALB2. While PALB2 typically helps prevent cancer, when it mutates, it no longer functions correctly, increasing the risk of breast cancer for those with the mutation.
The operation took place at Guys Hospital in London on August 12, when Jade was 28. She underwent reconstructive surgery and now has 34D size implants, and managed to keep her own nipples.
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Together with her sister, Jade has launched a campaign named Not Just Braca to raise awareness about the hereditary causes of breast and other cancers. Jade, from Rye, Sussex, said: “I just couldn’t live with that level of risk. Once you’ve been diagnosed it affects your fertility and everything.
“If someone told you there was a 71% chance the brakes on your car would fail then you wouldn’t go out in it. My sister had already been diagnosed and was too ill from chemo to make the choice I was able to make.
“It feels amazing to be back doing lingerie modelling and feeling confident. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than modelling my favourite brand – Bravissimo. It’s been a long journey but I feel more empowered now than ever.”
What is a mastectomy and when is it recommended?
The NHS website says a mastectomy is an operation carried out to remove a breast. It’s used to treat breast cancer in women and breast cancer in men.
The procedure takes about 90 minutes. Most people return home the next day.
The NHS says it can take four to six weeks to recover. A mastectomy may be recommended if:
- cancer has spread throughout the breast
- the breast is full of pre-cancerous cells
- cancer is in a large area of the breast
Some women at high risk of breast cancer elect to have a mastectomy even when there is no sign of cancer.
Breast reconstruction after a mastectomy
A surgeon will usually talk to a mastectomy patient about the possibility of breast reconstruction. This is an operation to make a replacement for the tissue removed during a mastectomy.
It is often done at the same time as a mastectomy. However, it can be done at a later date.
Some people decide not to have breast reconstruction. You can find out more about breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy on the Cancer Research UK website.