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Angelina Jolie undergoes double mastectomy - CNN.com
A wise but difficult decision - [My comment]
(CNN) -- Actress Angelina Jolie announced in a New York Times op-ed article on Tuesday that she underwent a preventive double mastectomy after learning she carries the BRCA1 gene, which sharply increases her 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," Jolie wrote. "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."
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I had breast cancer, a lumpectomy and radiation therapy. I would think with regular mammograms, a double mastectomy wouldn't be necessary. I really can't make the decisions for others but I have to wonder why a cure for something they don't have yet? It is really effective? That's something we'll never know. Of course, if it gives them piece of mind, I guess it's worth it.
I do know that the radiation therapy wasn't easy and I think it messed up my immune system so, I don't know, maybe her way is better? I don't have any daughters but I would hate to think if I did have, that they would have to go through this. I was the first in my family with breast cancer.
Some women have a predisposition to get breast cancer, and if they do it usually is a very aggressive form. It's a lot like playing Russian Roulette. Why not remove all the bullets from the gun in such cases? If it was me, I would. I realize it has to be a very difficult decision, but there is so much more to life than just keeping your tits.