# Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy due to BRCA gene mutation cancer risk **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 14, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313 "2013-05-14T13:44:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/1 "2013-05-14T13:44:33Z")
As someone whose own mother suffered and ultimately died from two different forms of cancer that were likely related to a BRCA mutation, I give Jolie a lot of credit for being so candid about this decision. (It’s also worth noting that men who carry a BRCA mutation also have an increased cancer risk, even though people tend to focus mostly on the risk in women.) > [@](#): > > 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. [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html) ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/2 "2013-05-14T13:55:02Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > As someone whose own mother suffered and ultimately died from two different forms of cancer that were likely related to a BRCA mutation, I give Jolie a lot of credit for being so candid about this decision. > (It’s also worth noting that men who carry a BRCA mutation also have an increased cancer risk, even though people tend to focus mostly on the risk in women.) > [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html) I agree. It was very brave of her to be so open about this. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/3 "2013-05-14T14:27:08Z")
> [@](#): > > I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer. God bless her. I can’t imagine not doing the same if it would mean my children could be spared the suffering my death would cause. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/4 "2013-05-14T14:45:24Z")
I commend her for sharing it with the world, and using her fame to raise awareness. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/5 "2013-05-14T14:49:23Z")
When you remember her as the bombshell who back a few years ago was doing suggestive kisses with her brother and claiming to carry Billy Bob’s blood in a vial it’s amazing how far she’s come. I think she’s sincere when she says her time in Third World countries was a rebirth for her in what was important. [QUOTE=lavenderviolet] It’s also worth noting that men who carry a BRCA mutation also have an increased cancer risk [/QUOTE] I wonder if her brother’s been tested. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/6 "2013-05-14T15:38:27Z")
Good for her! Ages ago, a dear friend died of breast cancer - she was in denial, despite the fact that both her mother and grandmother also died of breast cancer at an early age. Hopefully some woman out there will read about this and at least get over the fear of what can happen and get tested and treated. My respect for Angelina Jolie has just shot up 100%. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/7 "2013-05-14T16:01:34Z")
I add my voice to say that Ms. Jolie’s plainspoken and thoughtful communication about this sets a great example and adds to the conversation about cancer care in a good way. A sidebar observation: wow, she kept this quiet (understandably). But, given her presence in the tabloids constantly for good and for silly reasons, it just goes to show that a celeb can really choose to step back. It’s like there’s different levels of tabloid engagement: a full Kardashian; an “I don’t like the tabloids” (but am always present in them); and a Not in Them. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/8 "2013-05-14T16:02:26Z")
Kudos to her for using her fame in this way, and hopefully it will save lives. Someone should get her a variation on the t-shirt that **Beelzebubba** [mentioned in this post.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16281001&postcount=74) Angelina’s should read: “Yes, they’re fake. The real ones wanted to kill me!!!” ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/9 "2013-05-14T16:13:29Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > As someone whose own mother suffered and ultimately died from two different forms of cancer that were likely related to a BRCA mutation, I give Jolie a lot of credit for being so candid about this decision. > (It’s also worth noting that men who carry a BRCA mutation also have an increased cancer risk, even though people tend to focus mostly on the risk in women.) > [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html) I’m sorry for the loss of your mother, but a little confused by the phrase “likely related to a BRCA mutation” I hope I’m not overstepping my politeness by urging you (you probably have but hard to tell from your post) to get tested to see if you have the gene. My fiance fought breast cancer in her 20’s and has the BRCA1 gene. (I met her after her fight) She has little chance of breast cancer returning, but has an increased risk of Ovarian cancer. I have accompanied her to a number of conferences aimed towards the BRCA gene and so many people there talk of family members that refuse to get tested for the gene when it is present in their family. I believe Sharon Osbourne had the same procedure due to the BRCA gene. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/10 "2013-05-14T17:29:16Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Kudos to her for using her fame in this way, and hopefully it will save lives. > > Someone should get her a variation on the t-shirt that **Beelzebubba** [mentioned in this post.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16281001&postcount=74) Angelina’s should read: > > “Yes, they’re fake. The real ones wanted to kill me!!!” That sounds like something she’d actually wear. 🙂 I agree with you, **DMark** - my respect for her has also gone up over this. Celebrity or not, it sounds like a hell of a procedure, and not one I’d wish on my worst enemy. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/11 "2013-05-14T17:29:56Z")
I admire Jolie’s bravery at putting this out in public. My cousin had a double mastectomy a couple of years ago, and really struggled with the issue (she’s a former ballerina, and body image was paramount to her). She finally got to a place where she now says “my breasts tried to kill me, so I cut them off,” in a matter-of-fact tone, because really, that’s how she sees it now. It seems to me that Jolie’s decision was along the same lines - her breasts will probably kill her one day, so let’s remove them now. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/12 "2013-05-14T17:31:35Z")
So um, how would one go about finding out they have this gene? There’s no history of breast cancer in my family, does that mean I don’t have to worry? ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/13 "2013-05-14T17:38:15Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > So um, how would one go about finding out they have this gene? There’s no history of breast cancer in my family, does that mean I don’t have to worry? Does anyone in your family have ovarian cancer? [http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA](http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA) This site gives some information on getting tested: [http://www.bracnow.com/](http://www.bracnow.com/) ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/14 "2013-05-14T17:42:27Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > So um, how would one go about finding out they have this gene? There’s no history of breast cancer in my family, does that mean I don’t have to worry? You just have to provide a blood sample. If you have no history of breast cancer, you have a lower probability of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, but it’s also been linked to other kinds of cancers. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/15 "2013-05-14T17:48:02Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > That sounds like something she’d actually wear. 🙂 I think **Beelzebubba** should start selling these as soon as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/16 "2013-05-14T18:18:37Z")
Hopefully, her having this done despite having a multimillion dollar career that rests a lot on her physical appearance helps other women who may be more reluctant who have less in their way (especially if it’s a man — I hear some less understanding SO’s tend to oppose this). ---
**Author:** ![Sparky\_the\_Wonder\_Spirit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Sparky\_the\_Wonder\_Spirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky_the_Wonder_Spirit)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/17 "2013-05-14T18:30:20Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > You just have to provide a blood sample. If you have no history of breast cancer, you have a lower probability of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, but it’s also been linked to other kinds of cancers. Unfortunately, the cost of the testing is probably a barrier for many women. If your insurance doesn’t cover genetic tests and you don’t have [several hundred to several thousand dollars](http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA) on hand to cover the cost yourself, well, you’re kind of SOL. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/18 "2013-05-14T18:57:31Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > I commend her for sharing it with the world, and using her fame to raise awareness. Yes, I too applaud her for speaking out about _ **breast cancer** _, truly the rarest of all modern diseases. Seriously though, I’m glad she’s going to be alright. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/19 "2013-05-14T19:01:46Z")
> [@Sparky\_the\_Wonder\_Spirit](#): > > Unfortunately, the cost of the testing is probably a barrier for many women. If your insurance doesn’t cover genetic tests and you don’t have [several hundred to several thousand dollars](http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA) on hand to cover the cost yourself, well, you’re kind of SOL. I don’t have the figures but I can’t help but think a genetic screening and even a double mastectomy would be incomparably cheaper for the insurance company to pay for than a long cancer battle down the road. I suppose they’re playing the odds that with the rate at which Americans change jobs by the time cancer happens the woman will be insured by another company. > [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Yes, I too applaud her for speaking out about _ **breast cancer** _, truly the rarest of all modern diseases. She didn’t have breast cancer. She’s speaking out about a particular type of screening for it and about being a beautiful woman whose career is largely based on her appearance and her body who nevertheless decided to have her breasts removed as a preemptive strike based on a type of genetic screening that I certainly never knew existed and would imagine most others did not either. ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313/20 "2013-05-14T19:13:27Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Yes, I too applaud her for speaking out about _ **breast cancer** _, truly the rarest of all modern diseases. > > Seriously though, I’m glad she’s going to be alright. As Sampiro said…she is bringing attention to the BRCA gene mutation. She had a preventative double mastectomy. Miss District of Columbia did the same preventative procedure not too long ago as well. [http://montgomerymag.com/archives/3479](http://montgomerymag.com/archives/3479) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angelina-jolie-has-double-mastectomy-due-to-brca-gene-mutation-cancer-risk/658313.md?page=2)