At 22 years old, talent booker Paige More learned she had tested positive for the BRCA gene, a risk factor strongly associated with breast cancer. This diagnosis, coupled with a strong family history of the disease, motivated Paige to make a decision that more and more BRCA-positive woman are choosing: Paige decided to have both of her breasts removed, even though she was cancer-free.
Freya Schnabel, MD, director of breast surgery at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, performed Paige’s surgery. “Women who test positive for BRCA have about an 85 percent chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime,” Dr. Schnabel tells Good Morning America. “When I consult with a patient, we discuss several options to manage risk, and one of the things we discuss is preventive mastectomy.”
Dr. Freya Schnabel, director of breast surgery at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.
Photo: NYU Langone Staff
Since she had her surgery, Paige says that she has met so many “amazing people” who have gone through similar experiences. “I’m a warrior,” she says proudly. “I wanted to show cancer that you’re not going to get me.”
Watch more on Good Morning America.
