Israeli TV Presenter Dana Grotsky Undergoes Preventive Mastectomy
Israeli TV presenter Dana Grotsky successfully underwent a preventive double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery after discovering she carries the BRCA1 genetic mutation, following her preventive ovarian removal earlier this year.
Israeli television presenter Dana Grotsky announced on Thursday that she successfully underwent a preventive double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery following the discovery of a genetic mutation. Sharing an update from her hospital bed, she confirmed that the procedure went as planned.
The surgery marks the culmination of a multi-year medical journey triggered by Grotsky discovering she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation, which significantly elevates the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. In January 2025, she underwent a preventive oophorectomy to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes, ultimately deciding to proceed with the breast surgery as well. She has previously urged women to get tested, emphasizing that early detection saves lives.
According to the Israel Cancer Association, approximately one in 40 women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent carries one of the common BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. The prevalence is estimated at one in 56 among women of Ethiopian origin, and one in 140 in other Jewish populations. Standard routine blood work does not test for these mutations, requiring a targeted genetic screening via a simple blood test instead.
In Israel, healthy women of partial or full Ashkenazi descent, as well as women of Ethiopian origin, are entitled to free BRCA screening under the national health basket, regardless of family history. The test is accessible directly through health maintenance organizations without prior genetic counseling. Preventive mastectomy and reconstruction procedures are also covered by the public health system for high-risk patients, subject to medical approval.
