Mother and Daughter Get Preventative Double Mastectomies Together After Grandfather Dies of Breast Cancer (Exclusive)

• Susan Madigan and her daughter Cailynn tested positive for the BRCA gene after inheriting it from Susan’s father who died of breast cancer
• Together they underwent preventive double mastectomy and breast reconstruction
• Cailynn was recognized by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for her journey and for encouraging others to take control of their health

A mother-daughter duo underwent a preventative double mastectomy together and now hope their story will inspire others to take control of their health.

In early 2013, Susan Madigan and her daughter Cailynn Madigan — of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — learned that Susan’s father had been diagnosed with breast cancer. He was also a carrier of the BRCA2 gene, which is associated with a significantly higher chance of developing breast or ovarian cancer.

It was a year before doctors examined the baseball-sized lump on his breast, and Susan and Cailynn saw the brutal effects of the disease up close as he underwent chemotherapy and radiation.

“It was excruciating and so painful for him,” Susan, 52, tells PEOPLE. “In the end, my dad said, ‘I can’t do it anymore.’ And he really couldn’t… So I literally held him in my arms while he was dying. It was difficult.”

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Cailynn with her grandfather; Susan with her father.

Cailynn Madigan

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Cailynn, now 26, was just a teenager when her grandfather died in September 2015 and says it wasn’t until five years later that she was able to process the loss. Knowing her family history, the possibility of her being diagnosed with breast cancer remained in her mind. She decided to do genetic testing.

In February 2021, Cailynn tested positive for the BRCA gene and knew immediately that a preventative double mastectomy would be the next step for her. She made up her mind.

“It was final, I was going to do it,” she says.

Cailynn spent nearly two years researching mastectomies and breast reconstructions before making an appointment with plastic surgeon Dr. Andre Moreiro.

“When Cailynn came to see me, she had already made up her mind,” Moreira, director of innovation for breast reconstruction services at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centers, tells PEOPLE. “There was no discussion about whether I should have a mastectomy. It’s like, ‘I have this, I want to take control of my health and I don’t want an outcome like my grandfather who suffered so much from breast cancer.'”

Cailynn in the hospital after the procedure.

Cailynn Madigan

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After seeing her daughter prepare for this life-changing experience, Susan was inspired to join her in a preventative double mastectomy. She learned in 2014 that she also inherited the BRCA gene from her father, but never acted on the results.

“I saw how brave he was [Cailynn] was, but I could also see how scared she was and how alone she felt,” says Susan. “That’s why I did it.”

“But listening to the process of what a mastectomy is and how to do a reconstruction, I came to the realization that, no, I’m doing something positive for myself. I will do this for myself as well,” she continues. “But in the beginning it was to support my daughter.”

Susan in hospital after surgery.

Cailynn Madigan

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Cailynn had her double mastectomy on November 28, 2022, and Susan had hers on November 29, 2022. The couple also underwent breast reconstruction.

That step-by-step support throughout the process meant the world to Cailynn.

“It was pretty amazing,” she says. “I was more than terrified. I felt like no one would understand what I was going through and I was really alone. And then when my mom came along, it was amazing to have someone who knew exactly what you were going through, or at least pretty close to what you were going through.”

“I like to think she’s the courage of the group and I’m the support of the group,” adds Susan. “Those are our roles. She’s a trailblazer, and I’m the one who’s going to hold her so she can do that.”

Susan Madigan and Cailynn Madigan.

Cailynn Madigan

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Both Susan and Cailynn have a lot of anxiety when it comes to breast cancer after watching a family member die from the disease. They admit that they are “very relieved” to have been proactive and reduce their chances of developing breast cancer themselves.

“It really felt like I stopped waiting for the other shoe to drop,” explains Cailynn. “When they told me that, yes, I have BRCA2, it wasn’t if I’m going to get breast cancer, that is when I will get breast cancer. So the chance is so incredibly slim right now. I was just so relieved.”

After her double mastectomy, Cailynn decided to share her story and her mother’s in hopes of raising awareness about genetic testing and the importance of taking charge of your own health. While she notes that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cailynn says her advocacy extends beyond that.

“Everybody wears pink in October, but I want people to understand that this is not just a disease that’s here in October, it’s here every day, 365 days a year,” she says. “So I want people to always be on guard, not just when they’re reminded to be careful.”

Dr. Andrea Moreira, Cailynn Madigan, Susan Madigan.

Cailynn Madigan

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“For me, it’s about raising awareness to be aware of the signs and get genetic testing. Because without genetic testing, we wouldn’t know. It is also very important for men to understand that they are not exempt from this disease. It’s not just women.”

That’s why Cailynn was recognized by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) through its “Patients of Courage: Overcoming the Adversity” program, which honors advocates for raising awareness and empowering others to take control of their own health. She was nominated by Moreira, a member of the ASPS.

“It’s a huge honor and I’m so grateful to be recognized and to have this great opportunity to open more doors to spread awareness, not only for BRCA2, but for breast cancer and breast reconstruction,” Cailynn tells PEOPLE.

“Knowledge is power,” adds Moreira. “It’s an important message and I think Cailynn and Susan shared it beautifully.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education