Angelina Jolie revealed in the New York Times today that she underwent a double mastectomy after learning she carried the fault breast cancer gene, BRCA1. After the test, her doctors estimated she had an 87% risk of breast cancer and 50% risk of ovarian cancer. With the double mastectomy, that has been decreased to 5%. The Oscar winning actress’ mother died from cancer in 2007 at the age of 56.
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Angelina Jolie’s Double Mastectomy to Prevent Breast Cancer
“Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work. But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience.”
I think it is incredible and amazing that she was proactive about her health and showing women the importance of taking preventative action and care. You can read Angelina Jolie‘s New York Times article “My Medical Choice” by clicking here.
If you have a family history of breast cancer, talk to your doctor about being tested for the gene and what your options are. You can never be too thorough when it comes to your health.
