Kirsten, 27, carries the hereditary BRCA1 breast cancer gene. Last year, she underwent a preventive double mastectomy. "I did everything possible to prevent illness—just like my mother."
"This summer on the beach in a bikini, I nearly asked two women nearby: 'Do I look different?' Even lying down, my silicone prostheses hold their shape. I'm concerned people might assume I chose implants for vanity. Nothing could be further from the truth. I opted for preventive breast removal for my health due to my genetic predisposition to breast cancer. I lost my mother to it at age nine, and I couldn't forgive myself if I risked the same fate."
My mother had tissue preserved after her death for research, allowing my sister and me to test for hereditary breast cancer risk later. Eight years on, as my sister planned her future, we tested. She carried a BRCA1 mutation, raising risks for breast and ovarian cancer. There was a 50% chance my sister or I inherited it. Relieved, my sister tested negative—but I had a strong intuition I was positive.
Five years later, at 22, I insisted on DNA testing despite guidelines waiting until 25. After six anxious weeks, results confirmed: I had the mutation. It felt like validation of my hunch, not a shock. I knew immediately: my breasts had to go. I never wavered, determined to avoid my mother's fate.
Read in the October issue of Santé how Kirsten navigated life after this bold choice.
What happens after breast removal? Reconstruction or external prostheses? Suzanne Kemps, a breast cancer survivor, created stylish external options. Qups are ultra-light bra inserts fitting any lingerie, empowering women post-mastectomy who skip reconstruction but seek confidence.
Suzanne: "Traditional silicone prostheses felt too heavy and hot. Partnering with social entrepreneur Clary Scheres, we developed Qups—natural-looking, feather-light foam inserts."
With an open-cell structure, Qups attach securely to bras or bikinis with stitches. Machine-washable and swim-ready, they're available at www.ProudBreast.nl in various colors and styles, with fitting locations nationwide.
