Angelina Jolie Undergoes Double Mastectomy

In a surprising bit of entertainment news, “Maleficent” actress Angelina Jolie has announced that she very quietly and privately underwent a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of breast cancer.

Jolie’s mother died from the disease after fighting cancer for ten years. Jolie notes that she is also at an increased risk for ovarian cancer, but as of yet is waiting to make a decision on possibly removing her ovaries.

Partner Brad Pitt issued a statement about Jolie’s decision:

"Having witnessed this decision firsthand, I find Angie's choice, as well as many others like her, absolutely heroic," Pitt said. "I thank our medical team for their care and focus… All I want is for her to have a long and healthy life, with myself and our children. This is a happy day for our family."

Jolie released the news in an op-ed piece for The New York Times entitled “My Medical Choice.”

“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,” Jolie says.

“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 apreventative 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…

“On April 27, I finished the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. 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.”

So, will it work? Jolie says it will.

“My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent. I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.”

She concludes with a note for other women in similar situations:

“For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options. I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices.”

Jolie encourages women to get the genetic test that will check them for the breast cancer gene. However, while it may sound groundbreaking, at $3,000, Jolie does note the cost “remains an obstacle for many women.”

You can read the full article here. What do you think of Jolie’s choice?