So I am sure you
have heard the surprising news about Angelina Jolie privately getting a
preventative mastectomy done. Now I have
so much in common with her, it is just beyond comparison. I mean we have both had a bilateral
mastectomy with reconstruction surgeries, we kind of share the same name, we both find Brad Pitt very attractive, and…okay,
I really thought that list might be longer.
I suppose I don’t have much else in common with Angie. Anyhooo, there has been a lot of talk about her
decision and I understand that when you’re a celebrity you are vulnerable to criticism
from everyone, whether it is right or wrong.
People feel the need to share their opinion even if no one asked them
for it. So annoying!
What’s that? Oh, you want to know my opinion on the situation?
Well, since you asked, I shall share my opinion. I think that Angelina made a very difficult
decision to undergo the surgeries knowing that she carried the BRCA1 gene.
(Click on the link
if you are interested in learning more about this gene mutation. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA)
I think her
decision was a very personal decision and I think if I had lost my mother to
cancer and then knew that I was at a significantly high cancer risk, I would probably do
the same thing. Knowing how difficult
the surgeries are, I would still do it if it meant I could avoid chemo! And being a mother (oh we also have that in
common, even though she has 3x the kids and I do) sometimes means making
difficult decisions for the sake of your kids.
If nothing else, I do think it is good that people are having
discussions about their health history and are more breast aware. I also think it is important to note that
there are numerous options for women out there that may have a family history
of breast or ovarian cancer or worry that they have the BRCA gene (which is a
very low percentage of people.)
Preventative mastectomy surgery is probably the most invasive. Pretending to understand this
is probably the least invasive. I think it is unfair for people to judge her
too harshly. People just feel they have
the right to insert their opinions, when sometimes they clearly don’t. Gossip!
What’s the point? Since we are
talking about gossip, I think Angelina is way too skinny. Oh and I am honestly still
shocked that her and Brad are still together! I never thought that was going to last. Good for them though. But, what do I know?
Looking
on the Bright Side…I was tested for the BRCA1 gene and it came back
negative. Phew! That means that my parents, siblings, and kids
most likely don’t have it either,
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