Making a brave decision, Angelina Jolie has undergone a preventative double mastectomy.
The 37-year-old Oscar winner revealed the news in an op-ed in Tuesday’s (May 14) New York Times, “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.”
“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.”
“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.”
Jolie revealed that the decision was “not easy” but she is “very happy” with it, and her risk of breast cancer has dropped to “under 5 percent.”
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