Angelina Jolie double mastectomy: Brad Pitt reacts
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- Published on Monday, 27 May 2013 17:38
- Written by LA Times
Angelina Jolie was "heroic" for undergoing a preventive double mastectomy, her fiance, Brad Pitt, said Tuesday after she wrote an op-ed piece revealing her decision and describing the mastectomy process, which began in February. "Having witnessed this decision firsthand, I find Angie’s choice, as well as so many others like her, absolutely heroic," he told the Weekly Standard in a statement, also thanking their medical team."All I want for is for her to have a long and healthy life, with myself and our children," he said. "This is a happy day for our family.”In not focusing on his wife alone, Pitt echoed Jolie's intent to support other women who find themselves in the position of making the same decision."I choose not to keep my story private," she wrote, "because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options." In Jolie's case, her "faulty" BRCA1 gene and history of a mother who died at age 56 of ovarian cancer made for quite a dark shadow.Jolie praised Pitt in her Tuesday New York Times op-ed, which went public late Monday night."I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive. So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition. Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has."Her three months of medical procedures wrapped up April 27. Also on Tuesday, the American Cancer Society released a statement of its own urging awareness and caution regarding testing and prophylactic surgery."This does not mean every woman needs a blood test to determine their genetic risk for breast and/or ovarian cancer. What it does mean is women should know their cancer family history and discuss it with their regular provider. If appropriate, they should be referred to and have the opportunity to discuss their risk and their options with a genetic specialist," said Dr. Otis W. Brawley, the organization's chief medical officer. Brawley noted that insurance plans created since the Affordable Care Act must cover testing and counseling, but not necessarily surgery."A woman with a mutation of known significance must consider her quantifiable risk in making the very personal decision to have her breasts and ovaries removed or pursuing other options, such as more extensive screening for breast and ovarian cancer. Experts recommend women proceed cautiously, and receive a second opinion before deciding to have this surgery."The American Cancer Society Board of Directors has stated that ‘only very strong clinical and/or pathologic indications warrant doing this type of preventive operation.’ Nonetheless, after careful consideration, this might be the right choice for some women."
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Angelina Jolie reveals she had preventive double mastectomy
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- Published on Tuesday, 14 May 2013 10:46
- Written by Fox News
Angelina Jolie reveals she had preventive double mastectomy after discovering cancer gene.Angelina Jolie says she underwent a preventive double mastectomy earlier this year after learning she carries a gene that increases her risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.In a New York Times op-ed published late Monday, the 37-year-old Academy Award winner writes that after genetic testing she learned she carries the "faulty" BRCA1 gene. The risk of developing cancer due to the gene varies, but Jolie says doctors estimated she had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer. Jolie, whose mother died from cancer, says she decided to have the preventive mastectomy to be "proactive" for the sake of her six children with her partner, Brad Pitt."My mother fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56," Jolie writes. "She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was."She said she has kept the process private so far, but wrote about with hopes of helping other women."I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy," she writes. "But it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent. I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer."
She is anything but private in the details she provides, giving a step-by-step description of the procedures. She writes that between early February and late April she completed three months of surgical procedures to remove both breasts."My own process began on Feb. 2 with a procedure known as a `nipple delay,"' she writes, "which rules out disease in the breast ducts behind the nipple and draws extra blood flow to the area."She then describes the major surgery two weeks later where breast tissue was removed, saying it felt "like a scene out of a science-fiction film," then writes that nine weeks later she had a third surgery to reconstruct the breasts and receive implants."Many women have chosen preventive mastectomy since genetic screening for breast cancer was developed, but the move and public announcement is unprecedented from a star so young and widely known as Jolie.She briefly addresses the effects of the surgery on the idealized sexuality and iconic womanhood that have fueled her fame."I do not feel any less of a woman," Jolie writes. "I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity."She also wrote that Brad Pitt, her partner of eight years, was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Southern California for "every minute of the surgeries."Jolie, daughter of Hollywood luminary Jon Voight, has appeared in dozens of films including 2010's "The Tourist" and "Salt," the "Tomb Raider" films, and 1999's "Girl, Interrupted," for which she won an Academy Award.But she has appeared more often in the news in recent years for her power coupling with Pitt and her charitable work with refugees as a United Nations ambassador.
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Angelina Jolie's Brother, James Haven, Speaks Out Against Child Abuse
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- Published on Tuesday, 14 May 2013 04:23
- Written by E online
It appears that humanitarian efforts are in the family genes.Angelina Jolie's brother, James Haven, wrote an article about child-abuse issues on The Huffington Post today.The 40-year-old actor serves as the honorary Senior Advisor on Global Issues at Harvard and is the founder of the CoreCause Foundation—which aims to deal with "the world's causes from a preventative rather than recovery standpoint."In his post, titled We the People, Haven touches on the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution and supplies facts about children's drug use and mental health in the country today."Child abuse and neglect in America is growing at a very high rate," he explained. "But I have good news.. Justice is coming!"Jolie's brother then goes on to motivate readers to set an example and demand that changes be made to the increasingly disturbing patterns of child issues throughout the country.He may have some big shoes to fill as a brother to Hollywood royalty, but he's already fulfilling the part!
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Beyoncé and Angelina Jolie Named Most Powerful Moms on Working Mother List
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- Published on Thursday, 09 May 2013 10:41
- Written by E online
Women run the world!Working Mother has released its top 50 picks for the Most Powerful Moms of 2013, and some of Hollywood's most famous names have made the cut.Singers Jessica Simpson and Gwen Stefani joined the ranks of business executives and best-selling authors due to their multitasking in both the music and fashion industries, Us Weekly first reported. Both proud mamas have built an empire for themselves through their apparel and accessory lines.Beyoncé also appeared on the prestigious list. The "Crazy in Love" singer's tireless work ethic and grueling schedule while balancing the birth of her daughter Blue Ivy last year is a feat that's nothing short of heroic.Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie's constant juggling between six kids, an acting career and humanitarian efforts around the world didn't go unnoticed. The UN Ambassador was honored for her influential political and charitable work.Other multitasking mothers who made the list were Tina Fey, Jennifer Lopez, Katie Couric and Mariah Carey.
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Oh no, Brad Pitt! Angelina Jolie tattoos not allowed
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- Published on Sunday, 05 May 2013 09:51
- Written by Now Magazine
Brad Pitt tells kids no tattoos like mum Angelina Jolie.Brad Pitt, 49, has always disagreed with Angelina Jolie, 37, about letting their kids wear fake tattoos, for fear they'd want the real deal like him and Ange.Now his fears have come true as Maddox, 11, and Pax, nine, are begging for ink.We hear the answer is a flat no.Maybe Brad has bad memories of some of Ange's tattoos. She had the name of ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton covered up after getting together with Brad.‘Angelina covered up my name. I'm sure Brad doesn't want to look at my name every night,' Billy Bob, 55, said.
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