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

Mar. 15, 2025

Susan Madigan and Cailynn Madigan.Photo:Cailynn Madigan

Cailynn Madigan

A mother-daughter duo underwent preventative double mastectomies together and are now hoping their story encourages others to take control of their health.

In early 2013, Susan Madigan and her daughter Cailynn Madigan — from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — learned that Susan’s father was diagnosed with breast cancer. He was also a carrier of theBRCA2 gene, which is linked to a significantly higher possibility of developing breast or ovarian cancer.

“It was grueling and so painful for him,” Susan, 52, tells PEOPLE. “Eventually, my dad said, ‘I just can’t do it anymore.’ And he really couldn’t… So I literally held him in my arms as he passed away. It was hard.”

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 she says she wasn’t able to process the loss until 5 years later. Knowing her family history, the possibility of having a breast cancer diagnosis lingered in her mind. She decided to get genetic testing done.

In February 2021, Cailynn tested positive for the BRCA gene and immediately, she knew a preventative double mastectomy was going to be the next step for her. Her mind was made up.

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

Cailynn spent nearly two years researching mastectomies and breast reconstructions before reaching out to plastic surgeonDr. Andrea Moreirafor an appointment.

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

Cailynn at the hospital after her procedure.Cailynn Madigan

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

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

“But listening to the process of what the mastectomy was and how to do the reconstruction, I did come to the realization that, no, I’m doing something positive for myself. I’m going to do this for myself too,” she continues. “But initially it was to support my daughter.”

Susan in the hospital after her surgery.Cailynn Madigan

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

“It was pretty amazing,” she says. “I was beyond terrified. I felt like nobody was going to understand what I was going through and I was really alone. And then when my mom joined, it was amazing to have somebody right there that knew exactly what you were going through, or at least pretty dang close to what you were going through.”

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

Susan Madigan and Cailynn Madigan.Cailynn Madigan

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 it’s a “huge relief” having been proactive and minimizing their chances of developing breast cancer themselves.

“It really felt like I quit waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Cailynn explains. “When I got told that, yes, I do have BRCA2, it was not anifI’m going to get breast cancer, it’swhenI’m going to get breast cancer. So the chance is so incredibly tiny now. I just felt so relieved.”

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

“In October, everyone’s wearing pink but I want people to realize this is not just a disease that is here in October, it’s here every single day, 365 days a year,” she says. “So I want people to be vigilant always, not just when they’re being reminded to be.”

Dr. Andrea Moreira, Cailynn Madigan, Susan Madigan.Cailynn Madigan

“For me, it’s getting the awareness out there for being alert to the signs and getting the genetic testing. Because without the genetic testing, we wouldn’t have known. It’s also really important for men to understand that they are not exempt from this disease. It’s not just women.”

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

source: people.com