Angelina Jolie - double mastectomy

Edward64 · 05-14-2013, 02:03 AM

I do admire her being pro-active and I'm not sure I could do the same in her situation. On the other hand, statistics could lie or not provide the whole context -- maybe there were other factors that contributed the the 87% risk like diet etc.

I guess if she can sleep easier at nights, good for her.

Angelina Jolie undergoes double mastectomy - CNN.com

Quote:

Actress Angelina Jolie announced in a New York Times op-ed article on Tuesday that she underwent a preventive double mastectomy after learning she carries the BRCA1 gene, which sharply increases her risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

"My doctors estimated that I had 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," Jolie wrote. "Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy."

Jolie's mother Marcheline Bertrand died of breast cancer in 2007 at the age of 56.

Draft Dodger · 05-14-2013, 07:40 AM

I think it's pretty courageous myself.

DaddyTorgo · 05-14-2013, 08:23 AM

Good on her if it'll make her sleep better at night and all.

Have to confess my first thought when I saw this was that it was a troll-title.

JonInMiddleGA · 05-14-2013, 08:44 AM

Honestly though, given her penchant for crazy, my first thought was that she probably did it to make some sort of statement or just for the hell of it. And even now, tbh, I'm not sure I buy a figure so specific as 87 percent as having come from a doctor.

miked · 05-14-2013, 09:52 AM

There was a recent study in PLoS that showed a pretty strong correlation between BRCA mutations and ovarian/breast cancers, that was dependent on where the mutation was. First off, they examined nearly 12,000 patients and about 60% of these had breast or ovarian cancer (that is pretty darn strong association). They estimated the top 5% risk rate was between 81-100% depending on where the mutation was, as well as family history. Given that her mother died young of cancer, and the ability of the (very expensive) test to determine the exact mutation, 87% is highly plausible.

But she is still crazy, just not about this. It's becoming quite common for women to undergo preventative mastectomy and I believe in a few years the tests (and this procedure) will be more common and likely covered by insurance. Would the insurer rather pay 5-10k for an outpatient surgery, or have 5-10 years of chemo/radiation/surgery.

Kodos · 05-14-2013, 09:58 AM

Not a fan of hers in general, but this seems like a smart move given the info available. A lot of actresses would probably be to vain to do this.

RomaGoth · 05-14-2013, 10:03 AM

Seems like the right thing to do on her part, but I guess that means there won't be a Gia 2?

korme · 05-14-2013, 11:04 AM

Christina Applegate had the same thing done in '08.

DaddyTorgo · 05-14-2013, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

Seems like the right thing to do on her part, but I guess that means there won't be a Gia 2?

She's got plenty of money...I'm sure if she wants to have some work done she can have some work done...right?

JonInMiddleGA · 05-14-2013, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miked

87% is highly plausible.

Note, I don't doubt the correlation is high. I'm doubting that a doctor would have given one that specific (as opposed to something like "about 85%").

Autumn · 05-14-2013, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Note, I don't doubt the correlation is high. I'm doubting that a doctor would have given one that specific (as opposed to something like "about 85%").

No, I think for someone who can afford a high-end doctor, these sort of numbers are typical. This sort of exact risk analysis is the cutting edge of medicine now. In particular with breast cancer they know quite a lot about how to determine a person's exact risk. Look too at Sergey Brin who has been doing a lot with his personal Parkinson's risk based on his genetics, family history, lifestyle, etc. That's a much wider range of percentage, but with breast cancer they've been able to narrow things down much more.

And yes, these preventative double mastectomies have become quite a thing. We're doing a project around that at work right now. There's been a lot of celebrity endorsement, to the point that some women are feeling pressured to go that direction. What people need to remember is that numbers like 87% are highly personal and would be completely different for another woman with breast cancer.

chadritt · 05-14-2013, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

She's got plenty of money...I'm sure if she wants to have some work done she can have some work done...right?

Apparently most insurances, including medicaid from what Ive read, cover full reconstruction in the case of double mastectomy. Either way shes already had reconstruction done.

B & B · 08-03-2015, 11:48 PM

Well, this isn't me.

Crazy to think Ive been on FOFC for almost 15 years.
Fuck. Im not even starting a new thread. This just sucks.

Never crying for sympathy, but my mother who is a breast cancer Survivor from the 90s, just had another annual mammogram and tested + for cancer again.

She tested + for the BRCA same as Angelina Jolie(that whole thing was another ordeal and a 4k test) which is fairly rare , and given options.

3 weeks ago she went thru double mastectomy, when asked about the reconstruction she laughed and said , lets concentrate on getting rid of cancer first.

After successfully going thru chemo in the early 90s , and after going thru the double mastectomy the doctors came back and said that the cancer they took from the lymph nodes was 'aggressive" and they needed to start another round of chemotherapy.

They just did an "Echo" heart check to make sure she was even strong enough to go thru this. I know that's standard, but my mother is the STRONGEST person Ive ever met.

I really don't have the words. Fuck Cancer.

thesloppy · 08-04-2015, 12:20 AM

That's horrible. I'm so sorry.

Kodos · 08-04-2015, 08:33 AM

That's awful. Very sorry to hear about your Mom. Hopefully she can use all that strength and fight her way past the cancer.

BillJasper · 08-04-2015, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B & B

Well, this isn't me.

Crazy to think Ive been on FOFC for almost 15 years.
Fuck. Im not even starting a new thread. This just sucks.

Never crying for sympathy, but my mother who is a breast cancer Survivor from the 90s, just had another annual mammogram and tested + for cancer again.

She tested + for the BRCA same as Angelina Jolie(that whole thing was another ordeal and a 4k test) which is fairly rare , and given options.

3 weeks ago she went thru double mastectomy, when asked about the reconstruction she laughed and said , lets concentrate on getting rid of cancer first.

After successfully going thru chemo in the early 90s , and after going thru the double mastectomy the doctors came back and said that the cancer they took from the lymph nodes was 'aggressive" and they needed to start another round of chemotherapy.

They just did an "Echo" heart check to make sure she was even strong enough to go thru this. I know that's standard, but my mother is the STRONGEST person Ive ever met.

I really don't have the words. Fuck Cancer.

My thoughts are with her.

05-14-2013, 07:40 AM	#2
Draft Dodger Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Keene, NH	I think it's pretty courageous myself. __________________ Mile High Hockey

05-14-2013, 08:44 AM	#4
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	Honestly though, given her penchant for crazy, my first thought was that she probably did it to make some sort of statement or just for the hell of it. And even now, tbh, I'm not sure I buy a figure so specific as 87 percent as having come from a doctor. __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

05-14-2013, 09:52 AM	#5
miked College Starter Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Dirty	There was a recent study in PLoS that showed a pretty strong correlation between BRCA mutations and ovarian/breast cancers, that was dependent on where the mutation was. First off, they examined nearly 12,000 patients and about 60% of these had breast or ovarian cancer (that is pretty darn strong association). They estimated the top 5% risk rate was between 81-100% depending on where the mutation was, as well as family history. Given that her mother died young of cancer, and the ability of the (very expensive) test to determine the exact mutation, 87% is highly plausible. But she is still crazy, just not about this. It's becoming quite common for women to undergo preventative mastectomy and I believe in a few years the tests (and this procedure) will be more common and likely covered by insurance. Would the insurer rather pay 5-10k for an outpatient surgery, or have 5-10 years of chemo/radiation/surgery. __________________ Commish of the United Baseball League (OOTP 6.5)

05-14-2013, 09:58 AM	#6
Kodos Resident Alien Join Date: Jun 2001	Not a fan of hers in general, but this seems like a smart move given the info available. A lot of actresses would probably be to vain to do this. __________________ Author of The Bill Gates Challenge, as well as other groundbreaking dynasties.

08-03-2015, 11:48 PM	#13
B & B College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: A sports era long ago when everything didnt require a Nike logo	Well, this isn't me. Crazy to think Ive been on FOFC for almost 15 years. Fuck. Im not even starting a new thread. This just sucks. Never crying for sympathy, but my mother who is a breast cancer Survivor from the 90s, just had another annual mammogram and tested + for cancer again. She tested + for the BRCA same as Angelina Jolie(that whole thing was another ordeal and a 4k test) which is fairly rare , and given options. 3 weeks ago she went thru double mastectomy, when asked about the reconstruction she laughed and said , lets concentrate on getting rid of cancer first. After successfully going thru chemo in the early 90s , and after going thru the double mastectomy the doctors came back and said that the cancer they took from the lymph nodes was 'aggressive" and they needed to start another round of chemotherapy. They just did an "Echo" heart check to make sure she was even strong enough to go thru this. I know that's standard, but my mother is the STRONGEST person Ive ever met. I really don't have the words. Fuck Cancer. __________________ Nobody cares about Kyle Orton because he's black. -PT Last edited by B & B : 08-03-2015 at 11:49 PM.

05-14-2013, 08:23 AM	#3
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	Good on her if it'll make her sleep better at night and all. Have to confess my first thought when I saw this was that it was a troll-title.

05-14-2013, 11:04 AM	#8
korme Go Reds Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bloodbuzz Ohio	Christina Applegate had the same thing done in '08.

08-04-2015, 12:20 AM	#14
thesloppy Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: PDX	That's horrible. I'm so sorry. __________________ Last edited by thesloppy : Today at 05:35 PM.

08-04-2015, 08:33 AM	#15
Kodos Resident Alien Join Date: Jun 2001	That's awful. Very sorry to hear about your Mom. Hopefully she can use all that strength and fight her way past the cancer. __________________ Author of The Bill Gates Challenge, as well as other groundbreaking dynasties.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)