By Mark Gray
2:36pm PDT, Aug 31, 2023
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Morgan Wade has decided to undergo a preventative double mastectomy after learning she's at an increased risk for breast cancer. The singer, who recently made headlines due to her fiercely close relationship with recently separated Bravo star Kyle Richards, made the decision because cancer and the RAD51D gene — a mutation in one of the breast cancer genes — runs in her family.
While in Stockholm, the 28-year-old got a call informing her that she'd tested positive for the RAD51D gene. It was then that Morgan decided to go forward with a mastectomy. "I was like, 'OK, well, I know what I have to do,'" the critically acclaimed singer told People magazine. Surprisingly, her incredibly personal decision has been met with some criticism…
Keep reading to learn more about Morgan's mindset, her fears and why people think she could be being rash…
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Morgan Wade — whose debut album, "Reckless," was dubbed the "best country album of the year" by Rolling Stone in 2021 — believes she'll feel better after the surgery. "I was given this knowledge and this information, so I'm not going to just sit there. I would rather have that peace of mind," she told People magazine.
The "Wilder Days" singer, who "hates" blood work, told the mag that she lost both her grandmother and her great-aunt to pancreatic cancer. A cousin also tested positive for the RAD51D gene, and an aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer at 30. Morgan's mom — after some pestering — finally convinced her to get tested for the mutated gene. "I was like, 'I really don't want to.' I complained. I was like, 'I don't have time,'" Morgan said.
In the end, no blood work was required. All the songstress had to do was spit in a tube.
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Morgan Wade hopes her decision raises awareness about taking health matters into your own hands. "People don't know. They don't. I've met so many people and they're like, 'My mom had breast cancer,' and now they're going to get tested and [are] finding out, 'Oh my gosh, I do have it.' They just don't know how accessible this stuff is," she told People magazine. "I've had so many amazing people reach out that have been through this process or have gotten tested to find out they do have the gene and they're grateful for that knowledge."
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While many fans are applauding Morgan Wade's tough decision to go forward with a mastectomy, some are being more critical. "People are like, 'Well, what if you never got cancer?'" she told People magazine. "I was like, 'Well, I won't know because I'm going to do the procedure and then not worry about it.' If you have the opportunity to prevent something, prevent it. That's the choice that I want to make."
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Morgan Wade's health decision came just days after she released her second album, "Psychopath." It also came amid rumors that she's in a secret relationship with "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Kyle Richards. The reality star, who recently separated from her husband of 27 years, has grown very close with Morgan. Kyle even starred alongside Morgan in her very steamy new music video for her song "Fall in Love With Me."
In the highly suggestive video, Morgan and Kyle share a bath, feed each other fruit, work out together and come close to kissing. While teasing the music video's release, Morgan wrote of Kyle on social media, "You see people being obsessed with us being friends and why we're friends. Internet's going to be popping off about this, I'm sure."
Said Kyle, "If they're gonna talk, you might as well give them something to talk about."
