A fit and healthy young woman has revealed the series of unexpected events that led to her undergoing a double mastectomy on her 21st birthday.
It all began just months earlier, when Newcastle model Lilly Chugg took a test to see if she carried her family’s deadly breast cancer gene.
Lilly admitted she was fairly certain she would not carry the gene responsible for causing the disease, even though both her mother Nicole and sister Taylor tested positive.
“I’ve always said I look more like my father. I got tested thinking I didn’t have it, so I was very shocked,” she told FEMAIL.
But the shock was soon replaced by absolute determination: she wanted her breasts and to eliminate any chance of developing the disease.
Lilly’s sister was 22 when she found out she was carrying the disease, although she said she felt like she had been carrying it for most of her life, so it wasn’t such a big surprise.
It took Taylor more than a year to decide to undergo major surgery.
Lilly Chugg underwent a double mastectomy on her 21st birthday
Lilly discovered she carried the gene that her mother Nicole and sister Taylor also had. All three women underwent double mastectomies to reduce their risk of cancer.
Her mother was tested 15 years ago, when she was 32, but said she “felt different” because she had already completed her family.
She urged her daughters to wait a bit to get tested and to carefully consider the life-changing surgery.
But Lilly knew instantly what she wanted to do.
“I saw my mother and sister go through the same thing,” she said.
The family’s history with the gene began when Lilly and her sister were little.
Her mother’s cousin, Daniella, passed away after a short battle with the disease, leaving behind her young family.
“I had a feeling it was going to happen to me, but nothing could prepare me for it. I started crying my eyes out,” said Lilly’s mother, Nicole.
“I felt grateful that it was detected and that I was okay because my cousin didn’t have that opportunity,” she added.
Nicole ended up having a complete hysterectomy as well, because the BRCA gene can affect other female sexual organs.
Her daughters grew up knowing that one day they would have to be tested to see if they were carriers of the disease.
“I didn’t expect them both to have this experience, and it’s heartbreaking to know they had to give up the opportunity to breastfeed their children,” Nicole said.
Taylor, who waited a year before opting for the massive surgery, said she wasn’t “thrilled with the outcome” but is still glad she had the operation.
Taylor said she is really pleased with the surgeon’s work and loves her “new” body.
She is happy to have had the option to reduce her chances of getting that particular disease.
Meanwhile, Lilly has never been happier or more confident and says the surgeon did a great job on her.
Lilly, always fit and athletic, added that the recovery was not as brutal as she thought it would be and she was back to living her life within weeks.
“In the end, I’m glad to know that it won’t lead to failure. It was a sacrifice for long-term gain,” she said.
He added that the first two weeks after surgery were the hardest: he was back in the gym within 4 weeks.
Both Lilly and her sister want to have children and will consider a hysterectomy to further reduce their chances of developing the aggressive form of cancer once they have completed their families.
Lilly has shared snippets of her experience online and says she loves being able to help other young women with their decision.
“Many women have sent me messages to thank me,” she said.
Lilly is sharing her story as part of the GHD Pink Campaign raising awareness about breast cancer.