Angelina Jolie has undergone preventative double mastecomy

[ApexOversteer]

Originally Posted by NY Times

My Medical Choice

By Angelina Jolie

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 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.

Suddenly I find her to be an amazing person. She could have kept it secret. That friends, is courage.

[American Made]

Wow.

[Kerrmudgeon]

I wonder if she'll do the downstairs next. Brave girl for sure. It's also nice that she has the money to get the surgery done, most do not.

[Yamma]

Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon

I wonder if she'll do the downstairs next. Brave girl for sure. It's also nice that she has the money to get the surgery done, most do not.

My best friend will have to file bankruptcy for the cost (even with insurance) for two go rounds with non-hodgkins lymphoma. They certainly don't make it affordable.....

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

That friends, is courage.

If she wasn't such a publicity hound I could probably get on board. As it is, she being who she is, I'm reluctant to call her courageous. But maybe she is, I'm undecided.

[Broken Wind]

Originally Posted by Thomas

If she wasn't such a publicity hound I could probably get on board. As it is, she being who she is, I'm reluctant to call her courageous. But maybe she is, I'm undecided.

Come on Thomas, you CANNOT be that dense.

[Jeff '79]

I feel really sorry for any human that has to endure this operation, female, or male. It's a nasty heal, and is quite painful from what I hear.
She'll be ok after time, and probably get implants, but for now it's hell for her.
Bringing awareness to this by any high profile celebrity can do nothing but help the cause for a cure.
She's considering having her ovaries removed as well.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Broken Wind

Come on Thomas, you CANNOT be that dense.

Some things I'm very open and public about. Other things I'm not. This is something I would personally choose to keep private.

You could make the argument her courageousness may help others, and I MIGHT agree. If we're going to listen to celebrities, and take advice or strength from them, then we can't dismiss their political ramblings because it doesn't fit our agenda, can we?

Let me sum it up nice and neatly for you. I'm skeptical of celebrities and celebrity motives. That's all I was driving at.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

And let me be crystal clear on one thing. I truly DO feel bad for her. I wouldn't wish this kind of shit on my worst enemy.

[Jeff '79]

Originally Posted by Thomas

Some things I'm very open and public about. Other things I'm not. This is something I would personally choose to keep private.

You could make the argument her courageousness may help others, and I MIGHT agree. If we're going to listen to celebrities, and take advice or strength from them, then we can't dismiss their political ramblings because it doesn't fit our agenda, can we?

Let me sum it up nice and neatly for you. I'm skeptical of celebrities and celebrity motives. That's all I was driving at.

It funny Thomas.
I asked my wife if she had heard of Jolie's operation, and she knew every detail, down to the odds of her getting breast cancer after the operation. (she cut the odds by 85%).
By her doing this, Jolie is raising the awareness of an issue that is very important to the grass roots female. The more information one has at their disposal, the more one will have a chance to survive.
I, for one,respect her for going public.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

I, for one,respect her for going public.

And that's legit. I may come to the same conclusion if I thought it through a bit. However, my initial reaction and post was laced with a bit of skepticism regarding her motives being so public about it.

And yes, I recognize just because I wouldn't do it doesn't mean the way SHE handled it is rong.

[Broken Wind]

One of my wife's best friends went thru a similar preemptive ordeal about a 1.5 yrs ago. She opted for "skin saving", or "nipple saving" surgery. It has been a long road for her, with loads of self-doubt, double guessing, and gallons of tears. She first tried avoiding implants by transferring fat cells from other parts of her body, but that became too painful after awhile, both physically and emotionally. She finally got the implants about 6 months ago, and I have seen the results. She looks very good given what she's been through, and as I have told her, I would give her a second look on the beach.

I'm told that for a woman, this procedure is no less troubling than a guy having his genitals removed. So yes, it's courageous any way you wish to look at it, public or not, especially if done as a preemptive strike.

[CP]

They were magnificant. I wonder if she had them bronzed.

[Bucwheat]

The article says she already had implants put in.

[Kerrmudgeon]

I wonder if she went bigger?

[dwjz06]

I hope the new pair look as good as the old ones Tough decision for her I'm sure. It was brave of her to go public

[Grey Ghost]

Originally Posted by Jeff '79

Bringing awareness to this by any high profile celebrity can do nothing but help the cause for a cure.

Maybe more will remember their monthly exams, etc...I don't see her having an ulterior motive in this at all.

[Joecooool]

Originally Posted by CP

They were magnificant. I wonder if she had them bronzed.

Boners nationwide to be at half staff on Wednesday, President Obama announces.

[Barn Babe]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

Boners nationwide to be at half staff on Wednesday, President Obama announces.

Not the one at my house...

[dwjz06]

Originally Posted by TxAg

Hearing his voice causes most boners to have no staff.

This. Can't even watch or listen to his lying azz.