Meredith Hilliard, armed with the knowledge of her BRCA gene and her family's history, decided to have a robotic prophylactic mastectomy to avert the disease that haunted her relatives. 

Supported by her community and inspired by her mother’s experience, she became one of the first in Texas to try this innovative procedure. Her story is one of preparation, courage, and hope for a cancer-free future.

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Key Questions Answered

1. Who is Meredith Hilliard, and what makes her story unique?

2. How did Meredith learn about breast cancer at a young age?

3. What is the BRCA gene, and how did Meredith’s family discover they were carriers?

4. How did having a family history and the BRCA gene influence Meredith’s decisions about her health?

5. What is a prophylactic mastectomy and why did Meredith choose to have one?

6. How did Meredith feel during the regular surveillance (MRI and mammograms) before surgery?

7. What support did Meredith have during her decision and surgery?

8. What is a robotic mastectomy, and how did Meredith become a candidate for this procedure?

9. What was Meredith’s experience with reconstruction following her mastectomy?

10. How does Meredith feel about her decision in hindsight?

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Secret Struggles with Cancer

04:23 Early Diagnosis Key to Discovery

08:03 BRCA Gene and Cancer Anxiety

11:23 Robotic Mastectomy Experience

15:02 Family Health and Surgery Discussion

18:26 Referral to MD Anderson