Angelina Jolie Has Undergone A Preventive Double Mastectomy - Any Thoughts?

Pink Rose said:

My thoughts are that I would

My thoughts are that I would never have done this.  In my opinion, there still is not enough proof that even if you carry the gene, that you are guaranteed to have bc.  And, the research and doctors say this too.  When women first started having this surgery, I viewed it as a scare tactic, and, I still do somewhat.  Women need to understand that all of your breast tissue can never be removed, even with a mastectomy.  Therefore you can still get bc, even by having a double mastectomy.

I respect her or anyone else's decision that has this done.  If it gives them peace of mind, then that is good for them.

And, if you have the BRCA testing done and are found to carry the gene, even though it is suppose to be private, future employers and insurance companies can find out and hold it against you. 

These are just my thoughts on it.

Good post Angie!

I respect her decision and understand but I wouldn't do it.I had benign tumors since I was 20.For 6 months I felt I was dying.My mom cried alot since she had bc at age 21.So that many years ago you'd hear"This person has cancer and only 6 months to live.Just what I felt but I was young. 

I do respect her decision but I think having check ups every year(even though she's not 40) is safe and do self exams. I  only missed 1 check up in 46 years(after having benign tumors at 20).There was a scare so never again.I did self exams and found a tumor and my husband found another.Had surgery and the tumors were benign. It wasn't till I was 62 and my grandson elbowed me in my breast that had the tumors. I'm not a doctor or nurse but instantly I sensed "this isn't good and it wasn't".6 months later I was dx with Stage 0 breast cancer.Lumpectomy but didn't need chemo or radiation. it was my intuition then something isnt right with that blow to my breast.   

Another  reason I would'nt make that decision is later I may wish I hadn't.Then there's no going back. Even with my sister and her cancer dx recently she wonders if she made some right decisons. She wonders if she should've  had reconstruction???

Be aware of your body, do self exams, see your doctor regularly and most of all never miss a mammogram.   

Lynn Smith

With breast cancer in one breast, I would have liked to get my other breast removed but my insurance wouldn't cover it.  She goes and gets both breast removed without even having cancer yet!  She just better not ever refer to herself as a breast cancer survivor unless she actually develops the disease.  I imagine she won't have to worry about getting a bad plastic surgeon and ending up with uneven breast either.

cathyp said:

As a Hodgkin's Disease

As a Hodgkin's Disease survivor treated with radiation in 1989 I had a much greater risk getting BC than the average woman.  Starting back then at the age of 29 I had annual mammos.  In 2007 I began to ask my docs for a prophylactic mx's because many HD patients were being dx'd with BC.  My doc said lets wait and see.  Well, it was too late.  I started alternating MRI'S with my mammo's.  In 2007 I was dx'd with IDC and DCIS in 1 breast and LCIS in the other. That left me with no options.  I  all ready knew I could never have rads again to treat the BC and chemo for HD had damaged my heart and lungs to name a few things. So here I was going faithfully for mammos and having breast exams done at least 8 times a year from all my specialists and it made no difference.  It only made sense to get rid of the breast tissue before the cancer since I couln't be treated for the BC.  I should have been more forceful as many HD survivors get prophylactic mx's for this very reason. 

Eventhough Angelina's situation is a litle different to mine, I could see why she would choose this.  I was not attached to my breasts one bit.  I think some women and men can't wrap their head around that. 

Cathy

Well, I guess if I was married to Brad Pitt, I'd want to keep my ovaries, too . . . . but she also has a 50% chance of ovarian cancer which is usually not detected early.  Just sayin'

I applaud Jolie for her reasons and decision.  We all know how difficult these decisions are.  I had a mastectomy in 1987 followed by a preventive second mastectomy in 1993, after 2 sisters turned up with cancer.  We are not BRCA+ but we know we have a genetic issue as our cancer lineage is unbelievable.

One can say screenings are as effective, but, in my personal experience, they are often limited.  For example, my younger sister's mammogram (after my cancer) did shown a small IDC and a lumpectomy was recommended.  She chose a bilateral mastectomy and it was discovered she had a larger, undetected IDC fairly diatal from original lesion.

Whatever it takes to save a life is so worth it!  My young neighbor has the BRcA gene and is fighting triple negative right now and having a really rough time.  I am not about to criticize anyone for fighting this disease with whatever tools they have at their disposal.

CypressCynthia said:

I applaud Jolie for her

I applaud Jolie for her reasons and decision.  We all know how difficult these decisions are.  I had a mastectomy in 1987 followed by a preventive second mastectomy in 1993, after 2 sisters turned up with cancer.  We are not BRCA+ but we know we have a genetic issue as our cancer lineage is unbelievable.

One can say screenings are as effective, but, in my personal experience, they are often limited.  For example, my younger sister's mammogram (after my cancer) did shown a small IDC and a lumpectomy was recommended.  She chose a bilateral mastectomy and it was discovered she had a larger, undetected IDC fairly diatal from original lesion.

Whatever it takes to save a life is so worth it!  My young neighbor has the BRcA gene and is fighting triple negative right now and having a really rough time.  I am not about to criticize anyone for fighting this disease with whatever tools they have at their disposal.

From the posts, everyone respects her decision.  It is her body, her life, her choice.  I am in agreement that I would never even consider this.  I certainly don't applaud her for this and hope that she doesn't spur a run on women doing this.  Someone on the news today said the "star power" could do that.  I certainly hope not.  It sounds absurd that it would, but, who knows anymore in this world. 

We all make choices in our everyday lives, some critical to our health, and, some we just do because.  I am sure she researched this to the full extent, and, I pray that she never is diagnosed with breast cancer, but, she still could be.  I hope that she realizes that. 

Her Mother died from ovarian cancer and I don't think Angelina has had a hysterectomy, but, she could have, and, just never made the announcement.

I wish her well and as long as she is happy with her decision, that's all that really matters. 

Diane

camul said:

I agree with her decision.
She is making an informed decision, she wants to do everything she can to be here for her children. I had a single my insurance wouldnt cover a bi.
I was told I was not high risk! I was given mega hormones fro. yhe time I was 15. I am not responding well to chemo, tumor wise or my body tolerationg this.
I the braca gene would have been positive 3 of my sisters were prepard. We do not have a lot of bc, only my maternal grandmother, but my mom, grandma and my moms 4 brothers all died of cancer, starting in their early 50's to 80's. Al6 of my dads 7 sibs died of cancer, both his parents with Acl and cll., I lost one brother at 53 to cancer 2 now have cancer, one of them with cll and small cell lymphoma, me with stage IV bc, 3 sisters wNda brother who have had skin cancer, and I am on my 2nd different cancer, had my thyroid andremove and bladder resectioned prior to mets and both biopsies coming back atypical not YET cancer.
I think she made a.very hard decision so she will be able to give herself a peace of mind in giving herself better odds at being here with and for hose babies.
You are right, having money gives you opportunity to do this that most of us would not get because of insurance.
I agree with cc, if this procedure saves her from what I am going through

camul said:

cont.
or anyone else I am all for it.
Sorry everyone I am doing his from phone and not so good at it!

 This would never be me having a double mastectomy for preventive measures, but for some, this is what they want and they think it will save them from bc.  I know we all pray that she will never have bc and be around for many years to raise her young family.

I never had the BRCA testing, even though my insurance would have paid for it, as, the counselor that I saw prior to any testing did caution me that the results could be found out.  I hadn't considered the test anyway, but, my cancer center covers every base.

JJ

It was suggested I have bilateral surgery in my late thirties early fourties  by an English doctor over there.  A very surprising comment at that time and I was shocked.  Didn't do it and wish I had.  Fifteen years later had exactly that, and that is with no positive cancer gene.  

I think she did the right thing.  Yes, she has the children she wants (some dont when diagnosed), she has the money.  Funny I also thought, bet she looks fantastic with a top class plastic surgeon.  

Would not be surprised if sooner or later she has ovaries removed and historectomy.  

True, mastectomies don't mean breast cancer will never happen, she didnt relay that fact and should do so, as most of the public don't realize that fact and as she uses her notoriety she should make this very clear to the masses.

Rague said:

What worries me is that in

What worries me is that in the hoopla I've seen about her choice, nowhere has it been stated that while bilateral mastectomies may decrease the possibility of developing BC or redeveloping or mets, the possibility still exist of developing.  It is sad that there will be many women who do not RESEARCH for themselves and erroniously believe that they never have to think about developing BC.  There is no way that every cell of breast tissue can be gotten out.

Angelina shared her story and I think that is very powerful for women.  In her story she shared that her individual cancer risk went from 87% to under 5%.  She has been careful to say she will never get breast cancer.  Her story has helped to aid the education and discussion for patients with the braca gene mutation. All that I have read and heard mention the fact that her risk is not zero now.

I lived for 17 years knowing that the possiblity of breast cancer was higher than not getting it for me. That knowledge greatly effects your quality of life.  Try to imagine knowing your individual risk is 87% or any absurd number. Shame on me for not pushing for my dbl mx's before it was too late for me.  Hightened surveillance did nothing for me so I admire my fellow Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivors who were proactive to have dbl mx's before it was too late for them.

cathyp said:

Angelina shared her story and

Angelina shared her story and I think that is very powerful for women.  In her story she shared that her individual cancer risk went from 87% to under 5%.  She has been careful to say she will never get breast cancer.  Her story has helped to aid the education and discussion for patients with the braca gene mutation. All that I have read and heard mention the fact that her risk is not zero now.

I lived for 17 years knowing that the possiblity of breast cancer was higher than not getting it for me. That knowledge greatly effects your quality of life.  Try to imagine knowing your individual risk is 87% or any absurd number. Shame on me for not pushing for my dbl mx's before it was too late for me.  Hightened surveillance did nothing for me so I admire my fellow Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivors who were proactive to have dbl mx's before it was too late for them.

 

Rague, that is what I worry about as I've even read that on here from pink sisters.  I don't know if their oncologist and plastic surgeons aren't making them aware of the fact that they still have breast tissue left and can still get breast cancer.  All of us have made our choices in what surgery we have done, if in fact we have a choice.  Many on here did not have a choice, they had to have a mastectomy.  Her mom died of ovarian cancer so I hope she does look into a hysterectomy, relieving that fear. 

Angelina's surgery has certainly heightened the attention of breast cancer and for that, I am grateful.  There should have been a cure years ago and why there still isn't frustrates me.  My wish would be no man or woman would ever be diagnosed ever again!

I also wish they would have everyone get mammo's earlier, at least a base line at 30.  So many young women now are being diagnosed. 

Jan