Women raise awareness of BRCA gene mutation with photoshoot

After having both breasts removed to avoid a deadly form of cancer, one Jewish woman urges others 'not to stick your head in the sand'

A 28-year-old Jewish woman who had both breasts removed to avoid a deadly cancer has told others “not to stick your head in the sand” after organising a photo shoot with women who have been through a similar experience.

Gaby Dagul, from Hendon (pictured, second right), got 10 women who had undergone mastectomies or breast surgery to pose for an awareness-raising photo and urged Jewish women to get tested for the BRCA gene mutation.

Of the 10 women, seven are Jewish, including Gaby’s mum Alison (fifth right), who spoke of her devastation after learning that she had passed the cancer-causing genetic mutation on to her daughter.

One in 40 Jewish women are BRCA mutation carriers, compared to one in 800 of the general public. “My idea was to help and encourage other women facing radical preventative breast surgery that it’s OK, you can do it,” said Gaby this week.