Jackie Tohn Opens Up About Preventative Double Mastectomy Following Family Cancer Diagnosis

Jackie Tohn is sharing details about a major health decision she made recently. The 45-year-old actress from "Nobody Wants This" appeared on Today on Friday, May 15, to discuss her preventative double mastectomy and the family circumstances that led her to pursue the procedure.

The health journey began when Tohn's father discovered lumps under his arm in January 2025. Testing revealed he had metastatic carcinomas, though doctors were unable to identify the primary cancer site. To help determine the source, he underwent hereditary genetic testing and tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation, a significant risk factor for breast cancer.

Recognizing the potential implications for her own health, Tohn pursued testing as well. During a routine mammogram, medical staff encouraged her to get tested right away. After completing season two of "Nobody Wants This" in 2025, she took the BRCA test and received her results.

"I found out that I am BRCA1 positive, and I met with a genetic counselor. It turned out that I have an 85 percent chance of getting breast cancer," she explained on the show. Faced with this diagnosis and the challenge of understanding her medical options, Tohn assembled a medical team and made her decision.

On December 1, 2025, she underwent a preventative double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. The procedure involves surgical removal of both breasts, with surgeons able to reconstruct tissue or place implants to restore the chest area.

Now in her recovery, Tohn is using her platform to raise awareness about genetic testing and early detection. She emphasized the importance of family medical history, particularly when it involves rare cancers, diagnoses at young ages, or multiple cases within a family.

"So many things had to happen to line up for me to have this information," Tohn noted, encouraging others with similar family histories to consider genetic testing.