Housewives star Kyle Richards and singer Morgan Wade are friends

After Wade shared an Instagram post about the bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction she received to reduce her cancer risk, Richards offered his support by sending her a heart emoji.

Richards and Wade have flaunted their friendship in numerous social media posts. Richards has appeared in a music video for Wade and has mentioned attending several of her concerts. Wade was nominated for the Academy of Country Music Awards last year and is known for hits such as “Take Me Away,” “Fall in Love With Me” and appearances on “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”

“I stalked Morgan Wade on IG after listening to her music while driving solo from Utah to Colorado while filming House Wives of the North Pole and today we met in person for the first time. The most unlikely of friendships some may think, but kinship knows no boundaries,” Richards captioned her social media post.

The last 12 months have been very emotional for Wade, so the extra support has certainly been helpful. Last year, she learned that she carries the BRCA gene mutation, which increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

To reduce her risk of cancer, she underwent a prophylactic or preventive mastectomy, which is a surgery to remove breast tissue to prevent future cancer development.

“A risk-reducing mastectomy is a surgery where we treat women who are typically at very high risk of breast cancer because they carry genetic mutations. They are at the highest risk. Unfortunately, there is only one way to actually prevent breast cancer,” Dr. Elisa Port, chief of breast surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, tells SurvivorNet.

Decision-making around a mastectomy

Having a breast removed can be an overwhelming and emotional experience. One of the things that weighed heavily on Wade was the fact that the mastectomy would limit her regular exercise routine.

When a woman decides to have a mastectomy, several factors come into play. One of them is whether to have breast-conserving surgery, such as a lumpectomy. These decisions should be made together with your doctor by having an open and honest discussion about the risks and benefits.

“A bilateral mastectomy usually takes about two hours for the cancer part of the surgery, the removal of the tissue,” Dr. Elisa Port, chief of breast surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, tells SurvivorNet. “The actual time, the total time of the surgery, can often depend on what type of reconstruction (a patient) has.”

SEE: What happens during a bilateral mastectomy?

Other factors that play a role in the decision to have a mastectomy include the size and characteristics of the tumor and your family history. However, the significance of your decision becomes clear, especially if you decide to have a mastectomy and have both breasts removed.

Some women choose to have breast reconstruction and have implants placed immediately after mastectomy, while others do not have any reconstruction at all.

Dr. Port added that most women opt for reconstruction. The length of these surgeries can vary greatly. If implants are used, the procedure can take two to three hours (so the total surgery time is about five hours). There is also the option of taking your own tissue (usually from the abdominal area) and transferring it to the breast area during reconstruction.

Understanding the BRCA gene mutation

The country singer underwent testing for the BRCA gene mutation, which increases the risk of breast cancer. The tests revealed that she had the mutation.

BRCA consists of two genes: BRCA1 and BRCA2. Both BRCA1 and BRCA2 contain proteins that act as tumor suppressors.

They help repair damaged DNA and ensure the stability of the genetic material of each cell.

If one of these genes is altered, that mutation can cause its protein product to not work properly. The result of a non-functioning protein means that damaged DNA may not be repaired properly.

WATCH: Understanding BRCA Gene Mutation

BRCA1 and BRCA2 can increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women.

There are several genetic tests to determine if you have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation. Hereditary genetic tests are usually done with a blood or saliva test.

If you find that you do have a mutation, you have the following options to control your cancer risk:

• Extended screenings
• Prophylactic (risk-reducing) surgery in which as much of the “at-risk” tissue as possible is removed
• Chemoprevention, or the use of drugs to reduce the risk of cancer.

Questions to ask your doctor

If you are considering the option of a mastectomy, you should ask your doctor the following questions:

• How can I prepare for a bilateral mastectomy?
• What happens before and after the procedure?
• What are the advantages of using implants over my tissue during reconstruction and vice versa?
• What do I need to know about implants? Should I opt for preventive surgery?
• What does recovery look like after the procedure?
• What are the advantages of a watchful waiting approach compared to preventive surgery?
• What monitoring is required after surgery?

Learn more about SurvivorNet’s rigorous medical review process.