Angelina Jolie has been one of the immovable forces in Hollywood for a long time now. There is an aura of invincibility about her that speaks to her star power, and having Brad Pitt as her arm candy definitely helps too.
Sadly, even an A-lister like her is not impervious to the scourge that is cancer, but like the star she is, Angelina decided to nip the problem in the bud – even before it really became a problem.
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Family Ties
Angelina felt that it was in her best interest to get herself checked out and eventually undergo preventive surgery when she tragically lost her mother, fellow actress Marcheline Bertrand to ovarian cancer. She was only 56.
Preliminary test results from her check-up revealed that she carries a genetic mutation that is hereditary, and greatly increases her risk of potentially fatal breast cancer.
The 45-year old realized she had nip the problem in the bud before it was too late, and decided to eliminate the source from whence it came, through a double mastectomy.
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How Did We Miss It?
If Angelina did not speak out about the procedure she underwent to eliminate the cancerous gene, we would have not known, honestly.
The voluptuous actress has never been ashamed to flaunt her assets whenever she makes a public appearance, pre or post-mastectomy.
It turned out that Jolie turned down a few projects and took a mini hiatus to undergo the preventive double mastectomy that might have possibly saved her life.
She further revealed that her motivation to go for preventive surgery stemmed from her children’s questions about why their grandmother is not around anymore and if the same could happen to her.
“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,” Jolie explains.
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In Good Hands
More women are coming out of the fray and embracing the idea of reconstructive surgery, because of the strides technology has made in that aspect.
Women suffering from breast cancer can confidently go for mastectomies knowing that reconstructive surgery can make them feel good as new again.
‘There have been many advances in this (reconstructive) procedure in the last few years, and the results can be beautiful,’ Jolie herself professes.
The thought of losing one of both of your breasts could be primary factor standing between you and going for a mammogram.
What you don’t know can’t hurt you, but might also fester into something that might make the damage irreparable.
The fact that Angelina Jolie has spoken out on the efficacy of reconstructive surgery and us being none the wiser about her double mastectomy speaks volumes about how safe reconstructive surgery is.
There is no need to put your life on the line, for the sake of vanity. Everyone should be feeling more secure about finding out if you’re in good health, and nipping the problem in the bud if you’re not.
It can begin with self-examination to find out if there are any lumps, and a mammogram regardless of the outcome, just to get a professional opinion on whether you’re cancer-free.
The prospect of finding out whether you’re cancer-free or not shouldn’t scare you by now – you’ll be in good hands no matter what.
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