Angelina Jolie has a preventive double mastectomy

Xavi6

:eek: Wow! Fair play to her for a) doing it and b) opening up. I know a few older women who have and have a close friend who is considering it and it's a massive decision. Ultimately though a good one all things considered.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html?_r=1&

My Medical Choice

MY MOTHER fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56. She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was.

We often speak of “Mommy’s mommy,” and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us. They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a “faulty” gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

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.

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. Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action.

My own process began on Feb. 2 with a procedure known as a “nipple delay,” which rules out disease in the breast ducts behind the nipple and draws extra blood flow to the area. This causes some pain and a lot of bruising, but it increases the chance of saving the nipple.

Two weeks later I had the major surgery, where the breast tissue is removed and temporary fillers are put in place. The operation can take eight hours. You wake up with drain tubes and expanders in your breasts. It does feel like a scene out of a science-fiction film. But days after surgery you can be back to a normal life.

Nine weeks later, the final surgery is completed with the reconstruction of the breasts with an implant. There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years, and the results can be beautiful.

I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made. 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.

It is reassuring that they see nothing that makes them uncomfortable. They can see my small scars and that’s it. Everything else is just Mommy, the same as she always was. And they know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can. On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.

I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive. So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition. Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has.

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.

I acknowledge that there are many wonderful holistic doctors working on alternatives to surgery. My own regimen will be posted in due course on the Web site of the Pink Lotus Breast Center. I hope that this will be helpful to other women.

Breast cancer alone kills some 458,000 people each year, according to the World Health Organization, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. It has got to be a priority to ensure that more women can access gene testing and lifesaving preventive treatment, whatever their means and background, wherever they live. The cost of testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2, at more than $3,000 in the United States, remains an obstacle for many women.

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 will 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.


Angelina Jolie is an actress and director.

MadsL

tips hat, fair play.

jill_valentine

Crikey. I'll feel bad about laughing at the legbomb a little bit now, but fair play to her.

minidazzler

I can't believe she kept it quiet so long, well done on that and the decision.

HondaSami

Fair play to her for making her story public, it must be a hard choice to make but it will be encouraging for other people in the same situation.
Best of luck to her for the future.

Diageio_Man

Tits or gtfo.

mfceiling

Thoughts and sympathies go out to brad pitt at this difficult time...

dartup

there goes her sex life

Dr Nic

Fair flipping play to her! I know families where brca1 has literally killed every single female by 42 for as many generations as they have records.

Its autosomal dominant which means 50% of your kids will get the gene.

This news is massive for women who are affected.
Angelina really is a heroine for publishing this

aSligoDub

hmm, what did the docs do with the removed tissue?
<<.<<

>>.>>



edit; apologies for any upset caused.was just being an ah smart arse.

Dr Nic

Lads I know this is after hours, but choose yer words carefully

aSligoDub

Dr Nic wrote: »

Lads I know this is after hours, but choose yer words carefully

I for one welcome our new overlord.

HondaSami

dartup wrote: »

there goes her sex life

I take it you are a virgin and know nothing about women.

Oryx

The woman has the right priorities. And Id say most of the women she knows have fake boobs anyway. That piece is very well written, reassuring other women who face the same situation showing there is life after mastectomy.

But I can't help thinking lucky her, with enough money to have a choice. Most women with that gene will find out when they get cancer.

Mark Tapley

Diageio_Man wrote: »

Tits or gtfo.

This could happen to any female you know, your Mother ,your sister. I just cant see the funny side of it. She did a brave thing and talking about it might help others, even save lives.

the_monkey

Fair play to her, takes some courage.

cHaTbOx

HondaSami wrote: »

I take it you are a virgin and know nothing about women.

He posts in AH:rolleyes:

cHaTbOx

I think Jolie has done something really great in providing a role model and an outlet for people going through similar circumstances . Not that it matters , but my opinion of her has increased hundred fold.

hucklebuck

dartup wrote: »

there goes her sex life

You reckon she had much of a sex life with 6/7 kids?

dartup

dartup wrote: »

there goes her sex life

Rubbish.

Reconstructive surgery is incredible these days, she's likely to have implants with minor scarring similar to enlargement surgery. I've seen it.

Well done for being so public about this, and I wish her the best of luck.

Yamanoto

Mark Tapley wrote: »

This could happen to any female you know, your Mother ,your sister.

Though the incidence is thankfully far lower, this could also happen to your Father, Brother or Son.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_breast_cancer

Vojera

So much classier than Michelle Heaton. She (Heaton) got her diagnosis shortly after all the women in my family got our tests results (some of us negative, some of us positive) and I thought that her reaction would have really put the fear of God into anyone in our position if we hadn't already been talking to an excellent genetic cancer counsellor. Fair play Angelina for taking the considered approach and realising that people take your words seriously.

squod

So whats going to happen to them now? Shurely they'll end up in museum or something???

Annasopra

squod wrote: »

So whats going to happen to them now? Shurely they'll end up in museum or something???

Who honestly bleedin cares?

aSligoDub

mango salsa wrote: »

Who honestly bleedin cares?

sqoud, and me.. so thats two.
and when those puppies go up on eBay, there'll be a lot more.

MagicMarker

Wow, that is incredible. Especially considering the industry she's in.

Cody Pomeray

HondaSami wrote: »

I take it you are a virgin and know nothing about women.

nothing about reconstructive surgery maybe... but women and sex?
i think it is pretty much taken for granted that sex life would be a genuine worry of people undergoing a double mastectomy... not the biggest worry of course, but a consideration. i'm sure women think about that too. nothing wrong with that.

Vojera wrote: »

So much classier than Michelle Heaton. She (Heaton) got her diagnosis shortly after all the women in my family got our tests results (some of us negative, some of us positive) and I thought that her reaction would have really put the fear of God into anyone in our position if we hadn't already been talking to an excellent genetic cancer counsellor. Fair play Angelina for taking the considered approach and realising that people take your words seriously.

what?!

you're comparing 'classiness' of women faced with their own mortality?

heaton doesn't owe anyone a withdrawal to the shadows just because talking about her diagnosis might be upsetting.

force eleven

Why would she do it? It's a risk, not a certainty. What if, heaven forbid, she contracts another form of cancer? Something disturbing in this.

BraziliaNZ

That's awful for her. But God she had some nice tits too, poor thing. Still with her money she can probably just have fake ones made or something? Or am I just an idiot?

kfk

force eleven wrote: »

Why would she do it? It's a risk, not a certainty. What if, heaven forbid, she contracts another form of cancer? Something disturbing in this.

Did you read the article? Her doctor told her she had an 87% chance of developing breast cancer. Not a certainty but close enough to warrant a mastectomy!

eviltwin

force eleven wrote: »

Why would she do it? It's a risk, not a certainty. What if, heaven forbid, she contracts another form of cancer? Something disturbing in this.

Hell of a risk. Her odds have gone from 80% to 5%.

You might as well tell smokers to keep smoking cause they might get some other illness.

I think in her shoes I would do exactly the same thing.

2 stroke

Feels like they took my boobs.

Happyman42

What is really heartening is the fact that she said that the decision was an easy one in the end. That must give strenght to a lot of people.

Of course the clammy handed little boys, already oogling and tutting on this thread, won't understand that they have just been ignored as a mature woman of substance prioritises her life.

force eleven

So let's screen everyone for genetic risks? Where does that start and where does it end? Does anyone see implications of where that potentially takes us? I'm talking 15-20 years down the line btw.

kfk

force eleven wrote: »

So let's screen everyone for genetic risks? Where does that start and where does it end? Does anyone see implications of where that potentially takes us? I'm talking 15-20 years down the line btw.

Less women dying from breast cancer maybe?

eviltwin

force eleven wrote: »

So let's screen everyone for genetic risks? Where does that start and where does it end? Does anyone see implications of where that potentially takes us? I'm talking 15-20 years down the line btw.

What would be wrong with that? There are lots of things we already know can pass through the genes. Sometimes prevention is as simple as not smoking or keeping to a healthy weight. Not all preventions will be as drastic as this.

aSligoDub

force eleven wrote: »

So let's screen everyone for genetic risks? Where does that start and where does it end? Does anyone see implications of where that potentially takes us? I'm talking 15-20 years down the line btw.

you serious? she reduced her risk.. end of. no lines, no implications.

Ilik Urgee

Fair play to her. Might pave the way for a lot of other would-be sufferers to approach the threat head on, rather than living in deep-lying fear waiting for the seemingly inevitable.
That and she's just gone a whole lot sexier imo:D

ruthloss

force eleven wrote: »

So let's screen everyone for genetic risks? Where does that start and where does it end? Does anyone see implications of where that potentially takes us? I'm talking 15-20 years down the line btw.

I was going to say something., actually I can't be a$sed.:mad:

Duggy747

Since she's had the operations done she must be in a hell of a lot more relaxed state, that would be a pretty shìtty thing to have chewing away at your thoughts knowing you have that gene and wondering what to do.

You can have as much money as possible, but once cancer gets in there far enough, you're fùcked.

humanji

force eleven wrote: »

So let's screen everyone for genetic risks? Where does that start and where does it end? Does anyone see implications of where that potentially takes us? I'm talking 15-20 years down the line btw.

Once you make one slippery slope argument, you'll end up making countless more. Where will it end?

syklops

dartup wrote: »

there goes her sex life

Are suggesting Angelina Jolie won't be able to get laid after this?

Oh the naivete! :rolleyes:

sadie06

I am very impressed with the fact that she managed to keep this private for the duration of her treatment, and has now put it out there in such a dignified and informative manner.

I personally have a friend who has been struggling with the decision of whether or not to be genetically screened for BRCA1. I really hope this story brings it to the forefront of her mind once more, and helps cast a more positive light on any eventual outcome.

Well done Angelina!

krudler

force eleven wrote: »

So let's screen everyone for genetic risks? Where does that start and where does it end? Does anyone see implications of where that potentially takes us? I'm talking 15-20 years down the line btw.

Well if a doctor told me I had a 87% change of getting say testicular cancer, I'd rather go down the route of preventing it altogether instead of hoping I didnt get it, wind up probably getting it, then going through chemo or treatment hoping it went into remission etc.

renofan

Diageio_Man wrote: »

Tits or gtfo.

dartup wrote: »

there goes her sex life

As someone who has had a family member die as a result of breast cancer and have seen the devastation it caused I'm disgusted by cheap attempts at thanks whoring. Ye should be ashamed of yerselves.

Fair play to Angelina I say and hopefully her telling people about it will do some good, which I'm sure it will.

Plazaman

Wow, brave move on Angelinas part but the fact she said she seen her mother suffering from cancer for 10 years, it probably was an easier call to make when diagnosed with the faulty gene.

Reconstructive and cosmetic surgery has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years so mastectomies thankfully not the be all and end all when it comes to physical apperances as it used to be.

Having said that AJ is not the first woman this has happened to so whilst I'll still applaud her bravery, she's no different than the thousands or other brave women who've made the same decision.

Jimoslimos

Plazaman wrote: »

Having said that AJ is not the first woman this has happened to so whilst I'll still applaud her bravery, she's no different than the thousands or other brave women who've made the same decision.

True, but she is in an industry where women's body images are scrutinised in great detail. It would be quite easy and understandable for vanity to override the risk of getting cancer.

bnt

With skilled surgery and implants, I doubt anyone would have noticed had she not talked about it. Christina Applegate had similar surgery in 2008, and you can't tell by looking at her.

Aidric

MagicMarker wrote: »

Wow, that is incredible. Especially considering the industry she's in.

Probably not your intention, but a crass and misjudged comment.

Health comes before everything else.

efb

Courageous move for Angelina

misslt

I know she could easily have kept it a secret but the beauty of it (for want of a better word) is that she's spoken about it and used her position to ensure word gets out and could inspire other people to consider doing the same.