A couple days ago it was announced Angelina Jolie chose to have a double mastectomy because she was at risk for developing breast and/or ovarian cancer. She was the mutated gene which meant she had an 87% chance of developing breast cancer. She chose to come forward , to tell the public of her decision to have a double mastectomy and why. Her decision has been both applauded and criticized by the media. Angelina Jolie's mother passed away at the age of 56 from Ovarian cancer, and her Maternal grandmother died at the age of 45 from Ovarian Cancer. Angelina was already an adult when her her mom died but Angelina has 6 young children. Her decision was her decision. A way to be proactive with her own health and not leave her children without a mother because of breast or ovarian cancer. Losing a parent when the child is young or any age is traumatic. Hopefully Angelina's decision spared her children the trauma for many years to come.
Angelina had the double mastectomy and breast reconstruction before publicly announcing what she had just went through. She's planning to also have her ovaries removed. Once the surgery is completed her breast/ ovarian cancer risk will be 5%. Much better odds than 87% of getting breast or ovarian cancer. Oddly if she would of just had a boob job nobody would of thought anything about it.
Plastic Surgery is a normal day to day thing for those living and working in Hollywood. It's almost expected in the entertainment community. Her surgery and reconstruction of the breasts was not for vanity.
She did not have to publicly announce what she had done medically to potentially save her own life. But she did. She didn't announce her surgery to be declared a saint or to be more popular. She did announce it to show women , we have a choice and another way we can fight if a woman is more predisposed to breast or ovarian cancer. Before the genetic testing to check for mutant genes a mammogram was our first line of defense after monthly self examination of our own breast to check for lumps.
And let's be honest unless a woman has had family history of breast cancer , mammograms aren't done until a woman is 40. I think more insurance companies should be more willing to pay for the genetic testing and mastectomy/ reconstruction because in the long run it would save them money . Instead of paying for cancer treatment for years. But then I'm afraid insurance companies would push for the mastectomies when that particular gene is present, to save money. It's actually can be a double edge sword.
Dr Oz even expressed his criticism by saying "Jolie sent the wrong message to other women by making this choice." What's the wrong message Dr Oz, that women should not be proactive with their own health?
Choosing a mastectomy and breast reconstruction I'm sure was a difficult choice until she imagined having to lose her breast to cancer and fighting to live. Was it the right choice? It wasn't mine or anyone else's decision to make. If I had the money for the genetic testing and to pay for a mastectomy & breast reconstruction, I would do the same thing if I was at risk.
I'm sure most people would agree if you could get a procedure done now to prevent a traumatic or terminal illness later on , they would do it. It's called being proactive and taking care of issues before they become untreatable.
Losing her breasts and ovaries doesn't make her less of a woman.
This is just my random thoughts on this issue.
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