Watching your mother battle breast cancer is challenging enough. But when Lauren Foxworth learned she carries the same BRCA1 gene mutation as her mom—drastically increasing her risk of developing the disease herself—she knew she would someday face a daunting decision: whether to undergo preventive surgery to remove her breasts before cancer could strike.

Lauren was in her early 20s when her mother, Roxanne Valasa, was diagnosed in 2008. At that time, she focused on nursing her mom back to health. After that was accomplished, the 37-year-old Middletown, New Jersey woman—now a mother herself—turned her attention to avoiding a similar fate. Both women relied on highly trained surgeons at Riverview Medical Center for their life-changing double mastectomy surgeries and innovative breast reconstructions.

Empowered with Genetic Testing

The mother-daughter duo spotlights the power of genetic testing to point the way forward. For Roxanne, now 66, the results determined the best treatment for her triple-negative breast cancer, for which the Freehold, New Jersey, woman underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. For Lauren, the genetic testing fueled diligent monitoring of her breast health until she underwent her preventive procedure in May 2023.

“I always hoped that maybe, because I went through what I did, Lauren wouldn’t have to go through it,” says Roxanne, who worked at Riverview for more than 20 years as an oncology clinical trials nurse, retiring three years ago.

“I feel empowered now,” Lauren agrees. “I feel like I have a fair shot, like everyone else, at living a long, beautiful life. It turned out to be the best decision I ever made.”

Deciding to Have a Preventative Mastectomy

Getting to this point, however, was rocky. Following standard recommendations for women with BRCA gene mutations, Lauren began intensive breast monitoring that involved frequent mammograms, MRI, ultrasound imaging and occasional biopsies. After more than a decade, the stressful regimen took a toll.

Losing her firstborn daughter just after birth and then having two more children—now 6 and 4—convinced Lauren in mid-2022 that it was time to consider preventive surgery. To discuss her options, she met with Riverview medical director of breast oncology Debra Camal, M.D., and plastic surgeon Negin Griffith, M.D. By working in tandem, the two said, they could remove and reconstruct her breasts in a single operation.

Instead of choosing breast implants, Lauren opted for the same reconstructive procedure her mother had: a technique known as a DIEP flap. Performing a DIEP flap involves removing blood vessels, skin and fat from the lower abdomen and using them to create new breasts. Lauren’s nipples could also be spared to achieve a more natural look. Her decision for Dr. Griffith to perform her breast reconstruction was an easy one since she had also done Roxanne’s.

“A DIEP flap is as close to a normal, natural breast as I’ve ever seen with a reconstruction,” Dr. Camal says.

New Jersey’s first DIEP flap breast reconstruction was performed at Riverview in 2006, and “we still have one of the largest volumes and highest success rates,” Dr. Griffith says. “We have a very consistent team, and our efficiency in the operating room—from incision to closure—rivals any in the country.”

A Stellar Coordinated Care Team

Lasting several hours, Lauren’s dual procedures went off without a hitch. As expected, recovery was painful and difficult—especially being unable to lift her daughter, then a toddler—but Lauren knew those challenges were temporary. She spent four days in the hospital and weeks after with surgical drains attached to her chest and torso.

“Mom always had a determined and positive mindset, and I followed her lead, which helped me recover faster,” she says.

Far more enduring was the sense of relief and resolution Lauren gained. She is now considering having her ovaries removed—as her mother did 15 years ago—since the BRCA gene mutation also raises risks for ovarian cancer. “Doing this dissolved a heaviness I had been walking around with,” Lauren says.

Cosmetically, she couldn’t be happier with the results, which were tweaked recently in a follow-up procedure. “The result is impeccable. I almost feel more confident and beautiful than before,” she says.

Lauren and Roxanne wholeheartedly credit both surgeons and all their support staff for smoothing an otherwise fraught path to health.

“Both Dr. Camal and Dr. Griffith are smart, calm and steady forces,” Lauren says. “They are the highest-quality doctors and incredible women. I can’t imagine being in the hands of anyone else.”

Next Steps Resources

• Meet our sources: Debra Camal, M.D.; Negin Griffith, M.D.
• To make an appointment with a breast imaging and diagnostic radiologist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
• Make an appointment to get screened for breast cancer.
• Learn more about cancer care at Hackensack Meridian Health.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.