The sparkling Empress that is Angelina Jolie has JUST revealed that she recently underwent a double mastectomy in order to greatly reduce her risk of breast cancer!
In a poignant NY Times article, Angie expresses that ever since her mother began battling cancer — a battle she eventually lost in her 50s — the actress always knew she might be genetically prone to experiencing the life-sucking affliction.
The director and diplomat shares:
“My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman.
Only a fraction of breast cancers result from an inherited gene mutation. Those with a defect in BRCA1 have a 65 percent risk of getting it, on average.
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. I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex.”
She goes on to describe her experiences with various surgeries and concludes the article by detailing her reasons for sharing this very personal information, information she’s kept private until now.
Angelina expresses:
“I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options.
Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.”
Wow!
We are incredibly impressed by Mz. Jolie’s decision, not only to go under the knife, but to then share her story with the world in hopes that she can help someone prevent the terrible!
To read the entire, inspiring article, CLICK HERE!!! It may just change your life!
[Image via WENN.]
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