Bravo! Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie      (c) peoplestylewatch.com

Heard the news?  I guess you might have.  Angelina Jolie, the hollywood superstar yesterday went public about her double mastectomy.  In case you don't know what that means, she removed her two breasts as a preventive measure to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer.
The actress has a defective gene, BRCA1, which doctors told her had increased her risk of developing breast cancer to 87%, and her risk of ovarian cancer, the disease that killed her mother at the age of 56, to 50%, she wrote in the New York Times.
The 37-year-old mother of six - three adopted, three with her partner Brad Pitt - noted "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."

Jolie truly deserves commendation for her bravery.  For me, the biggest impact of her relevation lies in the hope it gives to women all over the world who may see the BRCA1 gene as a death sentence of a sort

According to Independent UK, "Jolie's double mastectomy puts genetic key to breast cancer in the spotlight".  The powerful oped has drawn praises both from the science community and women in general.  "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 stated.

Jolie and family                    (c) us magazine.com

“She’s the biggest name of all, and I think given her prominence and her visibility not only as a famous person but also a beautiful actress, it’s going to carry a lot of weight for women,”  Barron H. Lerner, a medical historian and the author of 'The Breast Cancer Wars' told New York Times in an interview.
Jolie truly deserves commendation for her bravery.  For me, the biggest impact of her relevation lies in the hope it gives to many women all over the world who see the BRCA1 gene as a death sentence of a sort.  Besides, the global discussion it has opened on breast cancer is noteworthy. As NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristof has revealed in a tweet after, that was part of the reason why Jolie went public.  "She wants to use her medical issues to nurture a national conversation on health options. No self pity; she just wants to help," Kristof tweeted yesterday.

The Jolie's example shows that there are medically proven ways of reducing the risks associated with breast cancer.   Equally commendable is the support of Brad Pitt, Jolie's partner. In a statement to London's Evening Standard, Brad said: 'Having witnessed this decision firsthand, I find Angie’s choice, as well as so many others like her, absolutely heroic. I thank our medical team for their care and focus." No doubt, difficult journeys are easier with the support of friends and loved ones.

As praises pour in, some medical experts however have a note of caution: "Amid the accolades for the film star's courageous revelation, doctors and genetic counselors were careful to note that her medical situation -- an inherited genetic mutation putting her at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer -- was very specific, and that her course of action made sense for only a small category of women."