Caitlin Aitchison beat aggressive breast cancer after BRCA1 gene discovery
Sydney woman Caitlin Aitchison carried the BRCA1 gene. Screening found she had stage-one breast cancer.
Caitlin Aitchison's family talked about their cancer history. The conversation led her to discover she carried the BRCA1 gene.
The gene raises the risk of breast cancer by 70 per cent. Routine screening found stage-one triple negative breast cancer early.
She had 20 rounds of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy. This happened before her baby's first birthday.
Treatment was successful. Tests showed no cancer cells remained.
Aitchison raised more than $50,000 for breast cancer research. Now she is cancer-free.
She is thinking about having her ovaries removed to help prevent cancer.
- Caitlin Aitchison, age 33
- Patient
- 70 per cent increased likelihood
- Breast cancer risk with BRCA1
- May 2025
- Baby born
- 20 rounds
- Chemotherapy rounds
Why it mattersFinding the BRCA1 gene helped catch aggressive cancer early. Catching it early may have saved her life.
AustraliaAustralian women with family cancer history should ask their GP about genetic testing, which can catch breast and ovarian cancer early.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
