Published Oct 6, 2020

White House Spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany Had Preventative Double Mastectomy 2 Years Ago; Now She’s Fighting COVID-19: Be Proactive About Your Health

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Be Proactive

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has tested positive for coronavirus.
McEnany has a long history of breast cancer in her family, and learned that she and her mother have the BRCA2 gene which puts them at higher risk of being diagnosed.
McEnany underwent a preventative double mastectomy when she was 30-years-old to reduce her risk of possibly getting breast cancer.

Eight women in White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s family have been diagnosed with breast cancer, which put her in the high-risk category. She took matters into her own hands and had a preventative double mastectomy. Now, McEnany, 32, has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Among the eight women who faced breast cancer in McEnany’s family, a few of them were in their 20’s at the time of their diagnoses. McEnany’s mother, Leanne McEnany, went through genetic testing in 2009, and learned that she carried the BRCA2 gene, which is a mutation that increases a person’s risk of breast cancer by 70%. To prevent a possible diagnosis, Leanne underwent a preventative double mastectomy when McEnany was 20, and that inspired the spokeswoman to take action and learn her risk as well.

Turns out, McEnany also carried the gene mutation, but delayed the procedure and opted to undergo rigorous surveillance such as routine mammograms and MRI’s every six months. Ten years later, McEnany ultimately decided to go through the procedure at 30-years-old, and says she’s grateful that she did.

“I feel good knowing that breast cancer is one battle I probably won't have to face,” McEnany said in a 2018 article.

Erika Stallings talks to SurvivorNet about her decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy

What is the BRCA2 Gene?

When it comes to being proactive about health, it’s important to recognize factors that may put you at higher risk of a possible cancer diagnosis. Take it from McEnany, knowing your family history and genetic makeup can be a life-saving resource.

If you have a few close relatives who have faced breast cancer, it may benefit you to go through genetic testing and see whether you hold the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene which are gene mutations that are inherited throughout the family and put women at extra risk of breast and ovarian cancer. If one of your first degree relatives (mother, father, sister, brother) carry a BRCA gene mutation, then there’s a 50/50 chance you're carrying it, too. Plus, BRCA mutations aren't tied to the X or Y sex chromosome, which means you don’t just inherit them from women.

Just because you are positive for these gene mutations doesn’t mean it’s a death sentence. It simply means you should be more proactive about your health. For women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, experts recommend they start scheduling annual mammograms at 30-years-old. If you’re especially worried about a possible diagnosis, women often opt to undergo a preventative double mastectomy which slashes your risk of breast cancer significantly.

Dr. Michael Birrer breaks down the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations

When Should You Get a Preventative Mastectomy?

A preventative mastectomy, also known as a prophylactic mastectomy, can really relieve worries high-risk women have about possibly getting breast cancer. However, it’s a big decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly which might have contributed to McEnany’s decision to delay the procedure.

Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, encourages women to talk to their physician before making the decision to go through the procedure. Your doctor can evaluate your risk based on your genetic sequences and age to see if it’s a necessary precaution that needs to be taken.

“It’s very important that a woman talk to their doctor about what their options are, depending on their age,” Dr. Comen says. “There are some women that might say at age 25, they want a bilateral mastectomy, in which case they won’t need any screening, in terms of imaging, for the rest of their lives. In my personal opinion, most women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation end up getting prophylactic surgeries.”

A preventative mastectomy is similar to a standard mastectomy, which removes a breast. When it’s a double mastectomy, both breasts are removed. This procedure can take a very serious toll on a woman’s self-esteem, and a very personal decision to make. However, there are resources for women who undergo this procedure in order to feel a sense of normal again. After a mastectomy, women may choose to go through breast reconstruction surgery which can rebuild breasts by using either implants or a woman’s own tissue.

Dr. Elizabeth Comen explains when women should consider a preventative double mastectomy

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