‘When the gene was found, I knew to get mastectomies’

It seems to have always been a family affair where this issue is concerned.

Ms Cupples did not test alone, her sisters also underwent it.

Her elder sister found she had healthy BRCA genes.

But Ms Cupples and her younger sister both found they had inherited a faulty BRCA2 gene.

Given their family history, both decided to have full mastectomies, followed by reconstructive surgery, to reduce their risk to that of an average person.

The HR administrator had initially been given an 85% chance of developing breast cancer.

She said of her biology: “It’s there no matter what I do. Finding out about [the gene] doesn’t make a difference.

“[But] It meant we can take some steps to mitigate because of all the research that’s been done, so I feel quite grateful.”

Her nine-year-old daughter Mila said she was happy her mum took the decision to have the procedure.