Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.Already have an account? Login
Lesley Murphy on January 24, 2017 in London, England.Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images
Bachelor alum Lesley Murphy took to Instagram on Wednesday, March 8, to tell fans that she is getting a double mastectomy after finding out that she is at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
Check out never-before-seen photos of Vienna, Gia, Tenley and Jake before they starred on the ABC reality show
Murphy, 29, who competed for Sean Lowe’s affections on season 17 of the ABC reality series, explained why she is undergoing the surgery in a short video and an accompanying caption.
“A couple of weeks ago I found out I’m BRCA2 positive, which means I’m at a high risk for breast and ovarian cancer one day,” the Arkansas native wrote. “Buzzzz kill. I know. But it’s true what they say — knowledge is power.”
Trista Sutter, Selena Gomez, Ellen DeGeneres and more stars have opened up about their unexpected illnesses and injuries — read more
She continued, “I’m left with a few options and have decided that preventative surgery is what I want over various screenings multiple times a year. A double mastectomy at 2freaking9. Wtf?! Yep, it’s happening.”
A post shared by Lesley • The Road Les Traveled (@lesleyannemurphy) on
In her video, the former political consultant — whose mother is a breast cancer survivor — elaborated on her decision to get a mastectomy at a relatively young age.
“My mom had breast cancer three years ago this month and she is a badass. And I hope to grow up to be like her,” Murphy says in the clip. “And this is me trying. So I think the right move is just to take care of it right now and do the double mastectomy. I’m 29. It sounds young, but I’m not getting any younger.”
Stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie, and Natalie Portman use their influence for good, doing philanthropy work and fighting for their causes
In her Instagram caption, Murphy said that she decided to share her story in an effort to help other women. “In no way am I looking for pity through this story,” she wrote. “I’ve wanted to share the news since the beginning simply to be an advocate for early screenings, detections and girl power.”