What do you think of Angelina's decision to publicly discuss her recent surgery?

1. 66

   sarahmooseposted 10 years ago

   What do you think of Angelina's decision to publicly discuss her recent surgery?
   
   Angelina Jolie has disclosed that she has recently undergone double mastectomy surgery, to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer. It has reduced her chances from 87% to less than 5%, and I feel that her decision to discuss it openly will help to inform more women about the BRCA1 gene, and what can be done to help those with this added risk. What are your thoughts?

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2. 88

   innerspinposted 10 years ago

   I think it was a brave decision to have the op, and a good thing that she's being open. Let's face it, the story may well have been made public whether she wanted it to be or not. This way, she's more in control. Seeing her mother battle breast cancer for many years must have been tough. Raising awareness of this issue is a good thing.

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3. 72

   lburmasterposted 10 years ago

   It will definately help educate others, but I didn't think she would be that open about a surgery she underwent. It shocked me. Yet I'm happy she is telling others to help them learn about trials that are common to too many women.

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4. 77

   junksellerposted 10 years ago

   This is a weird one for me. The whole reason it's even a story is because we live in a culture of breast worship, so that the removal of potentially cancerous breast tissue is shocking in a way that removal of some other potentially cancerous tissue would not be.
   
   It seems worthwhile to me to spread the message that such preventive measures to save one's life are far more important than are boobs. Yet, at the same time, she also had them rebuilt, so she will still be able to be worshiped by boob lovers. She is still the actress who starred along side her own boobs in movies like Tomb Raider.
   
   I'm not knocking her personal choice, but for society, is it really the right message? If she had cut them off and walked around flat chested, that'd be something to talk about. How about a no-boobed Lara Croft?

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5. 0

   Delila1posted 10 years ago

   I completely agree with you. She has really managed to bring attention to both the risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer. She is brave as is the support of her husband Brad.

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6. 84

   TIMETRAVELER2posted 10 years ago

   I think her reveal will help millions of women and that she showed real grace in sharing her situation with the world.

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7. 61

   Cheryl Spragueposted 6 years ago

   This is not going to make me very popular, but I have a very different opinion of Jolie's choice to go public with her decision.
   
   The test for the BRCA1 gene is roughly $3,000. Most insurance companies won't cover the cost of this test unless you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer. Odd, but true. We aren't all movie stars and we don't all have $3,000 worth of disposable income to spend on a test that may or may not give us the answer we're looking for. As far as I'm concerned, she put a fear into the minds of thousands of women who now feel like they have to have this test that they can't afford to get!  And now let's say that the test comes back negative - will women feel like they can rest easy?  I don't carry the gene, but was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer at age 44.
   
   What if the test comes back positive? Again, your insurance is not going to cover a "preventative" mastectomy!  I'm so happy for Angelina Jolie that she can buy whatever she wants, but how many of us have that luxury? 
   
   I think her coming forward was useless and perhaps even harmful.

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