Twin sisters Kate and Elizabeth Singletary were both diagnosed with breast cancer just months apart, prompting them to undergo double mastectomies within five days of each other.
The 27-year-olds, from Winston-Salem, discovered their diagnoses last year after Kate, a medical student, noticed a lump in her breast in March 2024. Genetic testing revealed she carried the CHEK2 gene mutation, which increases the risk of bilateral breast cancer.
Elizabeth followed suit, getting tested after learning of Kate’s results, and discovered she was also positive. Kate described the moment she learned about Elizabeth’s diagnosis in September 2024: “I started crying. I didn’t want her to have to go through all of this, too. But she’s faced it with a lot of courage and grace.”
The sisters underwent their mastectomies five days apart, recovering together under the same roof and supporting each other through post-operative care. “Seeing Elizabeth be so strong through her surgery really helped me,” Kate said, reflecting on the emotional challenges of their treatment.
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, where the sisters received treatment, has shared their story to encourage genetic testing and early screening for young women. Dr. Marissa Howard-McNatt, director of the hospital’s Breast Care Center, emphasized that high-risk individuals should begin mammograms at least 10 years before the age of diagnosis of their first-degree relative, often alternating with MRIs.
Kate and Elizabeth now hope their experience will inspire others to be proactive about their health. “Take things seriously,” Kate advised. “No matter how young you are. Just take things seriously with your body.”
