It was confirmed that last May of 2013, actress Angelina Jolie underwent a double mastectomy after tests showed that she had an 87 percent risk of developing breast cancer for mutations in the BRCA1 gene, which put her at an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Jolie has recently revealed that her doctors had estimated that she has an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman.
What Does The Findings Say About Angelina's Health?
According to reports by Sky News, it was found that women who allegedly carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic faults are more likely seen as prone to a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer. In one of her interviews, the actress said that the moment she knew about her condition, she has then decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much as she could. Consequently, that day led her to decide to have a preventive double mastectomy.
On the other hand, 15 days after Jolie's mastectomy test was published, a team of researchers had reportedly looked into data concerning nine million insured American women aged 18 to 64. As a result, they found a 64 percent increase in BRCA testing rates, as compared to the gene testing which were recorded two weeks before the publication.
Furthermore, as per UPI, study lead researcher Sunita Desai said that while their study didn't prove that Jolie's decision caused more women to get tested, her editorial likely had that effect. Desai reveals that Jolie's editorial has been widely shared on social media which has then perceived to be a thoughtful and well-delivered celebrity endorsement. The lead researcher has also claimed that the actress' action can be effective in raising awareness and use of preventive care.
