'I have lived under the shadow of cancer all my life and after my mum died, I knew I had to be tested'

A mum has opened up about having to have a mastectomy - after finding out her breasts could kill her. Siobhan Gracey inherited a deadly gene from her mum and knows there is a chance she could pass it onto her own children too.

Siobhan, originally from Wigan, had a double mastectomy four years ago and recently she also had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed. The mum of three now writes a blog, in which she and daughter, Orla, perform ‘check your breasts’ dances.

Siobhan, 33, was pregnant with her first child when her mum, Geraldine, died from ovarian cancer in November 2010. Tests showed Geraldine, 51, had the BRCA1 gene which makes certain cancers very likely.

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In August 2013, when Siobhan was pregnant with her second child, she found out that she too had the gene. It meant she had a 90% risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime and a 60% chance of ovarian cancer.

Siobhan also has a twin sister, Rebecca, who also carries the gene. In February 2019, Siobhan made the brave decision to have a double mastectomy and three weeks ago, she also had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.

She writes a blog: ‘Keeping Abreast of Life’ which details her own journey, and she and daughter, Orla, 12, perform ‘check your breasts’ dances for their followers. Mum of three Siobhan says: “I have lived under the shadow of cancer all my life and after my mum died, I knew I had to be tested.

“It was a blow, finding out that both Rebecca and I have the gene. But in some ways, it was a relief just to know the truth.