For the average woman, undergoing a double mastectomy at the age of 30 would be a daunting experience. But for The Block Australia's outspoken star Sarah-Jane Wilson, "it was just something I had to do", she says.
"And why wouldn't you? It means I'm going to be around a lot longer for my daughter." The 30-year-old social worker, a mum to one-year-old Cleo, started to look into the procedure after her mother Tanya was diagnosed with breast cancer twice - once at 34 and again at 45.
After several tests, Sarah-Jane was told she had the BRCA1 gene, which increased her risk of developing breast cancer to around 45-90%.
"It was devastating to hear that," she tells Woman's Day of the diagnosis.
"I went from walking around thinking I had the same chance as every other female of getting breast cancer to like, 'Oh, actually no, I have an 80% higher chance. It was a lot." She immediately placed herself on the waiting list to undergo the surgery that removes all of the tissue from both asts.
In some cosmic twist of fate, just one day before this year's Block auctions - and five years after her initial diagnosis she received the phone call saying she was in.
This story is from the February 27, 2023 edition of Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 27, 2023 edition of Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
LIVING WITH LONG COVID
Whether you or someone close to you is suffering, the support you get will make all the difference
WENTWORTH STAR LEAH 'I FELT SO STRONG!'
The Aussie acting legend talks love, leeches, lifting weights and her new series High Country
TV STAR SAMUEL 'NO ONE GOES ON MAFS FOR LOVE'
The skincare entrepreneur has some advice for the new contestants
Khristian's RECIPE FOR LOVE
This contestant had to choose between his partner and the MasterChef kitchen
A YEAR WITHOUT JOCK 'WE WERE TWO HALVES'
It's been 12 months of milestones and missing the beloved MasterChef Australia judge
HUGH'S KIDS TELL 'WE'LL LOOK AFTER YOU, DAD'
While the actor struggles to find his feet after his divorce, Ava and Oscar are as worried as his fans
CAM'S BODY IMAGE BATTLE 'IT'S OK NOT TO HAVE ABS!
After years of being bullied when he was younger, the CTI star wants to help empower others
HOME AND AWAY CAST DIVIDED OVER NEW ROMANCE
Ada and James' love life is the talk of the town - and Summer Bay!
THE MOMENT CHARLES MADE ZARA A PRINCESS?!
The King is on a mission to give his niece a leg-up in the monarchy
BRAD & INES' ROMANCE HEATS UP!
Life was a beach for Brad Pitt and his girlfriend Ines de Ramon as they enjoyed a romantic stroll along the waterfront in Santa Barbara last week.