[Villages PL]

While listening to this sad news today, I couldn't help but think that something is missing (no pun intended). Could it be that there was no other alternative? I can't believe it. She had an 87 percent risk for cancer without the double mastectomy? Really? Based on what study?

The problem, in my opinion, is that some medical doctors don't pay attention to the patient's lifestyle because it's not a job they are trained for. They are trained to diagnose and provide treatment. In this case they couldn't wait for cancer to develop. They treated a nonexistent disease.

Do you think I'm wrong? How am I wrong?

[stuckinparadise]

Angelina Jolie's decision to have her breasts removed because she carries a rare defective gene underscored the painful choices women face in these situations. She decided to have the double masectomy. The doctors said she had other options: mammograms more often and constant monitoring. She made that decision not the doctor.

[jblum315]

I think that whatever the risk was, it was more than she could live with. She bought peace of mind with her sacrifice.

[pooh]

Her genetic make up put her at a very increased risk. She had a faulty gene and people with this faulty gene do develop breast cancer at a much higher rate than the general population.

"Jolie says that she inherited a faulty version of the BRCA1 gene. Doctors told her she had an 87 percent chance of getting breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer. She said the surgery reduced her risk of breast cancer to below 5 percent."

Her mother battled cancer for years, dying at 56, a relatively young age.

Remember, Angelina opted for the surgery, she felt it was in her best interest, allowing her less worry about developing breast cancer.

Sometimes even with the best intentions and the best lifestyle, stuff happens and cancer develops.

[graciegirl]

I understand her anxiety and applaud her courage to share it.

[Geewiz]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I understand her anxiety and applaud her courage to share it.

I agree with the sage...genes are genes...with today's technology, knowledge and innovation...we can slow certain processes....but, genes are genes and they'll always get you you in the end.

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I understand her anxiety and applaud her courage to share it.

I agree!! This is so very brave of her and even braver to come out and share with the public. It was a personal decision and I applaud her for going public. I have two friends with this gene...had seen their mothers, grandmothers and sisters suffer through breast cancer. Removing the breasts is a very smart decision and I'm sure very hard to consider. Thank God it is an option. She certainly has her priorities in place. Don't forget she has six children to consider.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

While listening to this sad news today, I couldn't help but think that something is missing (no pun intended). Could it be that there was no other alternative? I can't believe it. She had an 87 percent risk for cancer without the double mastectomy? Really? Based on what study?

The problem, in my opinion, is that some medical doctors don't pay attention to the patient's lifestyle because it's not a job they are trained for. They are trained to diagnose and provide treatment. In this case they couldn't wait for cancer to develop. They treated a nonexistent disease. In my opinion, it was malpractice.

Do you think I'm wrong? How am I wrong?

I'm not one to sit in judgment in terms of right and wrong, but I disagree with you while at the same time agreeing with the other posters on this thread. Angelina Jolie educated herself and made the decision for herself that she is comfortable with. I recently had genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 and was filled with gratitude that no mutations were found! I can only imagine what she must have gone through to reach her decision. Malpractice? Absolutely not!

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by Quixote

I'm not one to sit in judgment in terms of right and wrong, but I disagree with you while at the same time agreeing with the other posters on this thread. Angelina Jolie educated herself and made the decision for herself that she is comfortable with. I recently had genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 and was filled with gratitude that no mutations were found! I can only imagine what she must have gone through to reach her decision. Malpractice? Absolutely not!

I know of 3 sisters, whose mother passed away in her 40's of breast cancer, who had that genetic predisposition so had mastectomies. They did it together so they could heal together. I think you need to walk in a person's shoes before making a judgment. That being said, in my family there is a lot of breast cancer. I get checked (so far) once a year. Would I go to have the genetic marker test? I don't think so at this time. I think it's up to the individual.

[billethkid]

she and her husband are very fortunate to be part of the ultra rich. They can afford to go to the very best in the entire world to get what she needed to make her decision.

To even allude to malpractice is totally and completely absurd.

btk

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

i understand her anxiety and applaud her courage to share it.

ditto!

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by billethkid

she and her husband are very fortunate to be part of the ultra rich. They can afford to go to the very best in the entire world to get what she needed to make her decision.btk

I don't understand. I deal with a very serious medical condition and I "go to the very best in the entire world." I shared my doctor with Ella Fitzgerald when she was alive, I sat in the office with the Sultan of Indonesia (only one sultan left there), my same doctor was flown to Saudi Arabia to treat members of the royal family; I have a medical condition similar to all these folks. I consider myself "fortunate," yes, but for sure I am not "part of the ultra rich." Am I missing something? If so, what? Angelina Jolie still, in the end, had to make her own decision, just as anyone would who comes up with a mutation on BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 (which I was indeed fortunate not to...).

[redwitch]

The tragic part is that BRCA testing costs $3,000 and is not covered by insurance. Makes it hard for many at-risk women to get the testing. I was not a fan of Angelina Jolie until now. She made a courageous decision and one that is usually kept private. To use her celebrity status to bring this issue to the forefront is an incredible act to me.

Most women see breasts as far more than just a way to feed an infant. They are very much a part of our sexuality, femininity. To remove them is a very difficult decision, especially to have both removed to increase future survival takes courage.

Add to this the fact that she plans to have an oophorectomy (ovarian removal) in the near future shows a woman making some very careful decisions about her health and physicians giving a woman all facts and letting her make the choices that are best for her. To have someone belittle both her decisions and the double mastectomies by claiming this is unnecessary surgery is beyond the pale to my mind.

[Uptown Girl]

Thank You redwitch, my sentiments exactly.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by redwitch

The tragic part is that BRCA testing costs $3,000 and is not covered by insurance. Makes it hard for many at-risk women to get the testing. I was not a fan of Angelina Jolie until now. She made a courageous decision and one that is usually kept private. To use her celebrity status to bring this issue to the forefront is an incredible act to me.

Most women see breasts as far more than just a way to feed an infant. They are very much a part of our sexuality, femininity. To remove them is a very difficult decision, especially to have both removed to increase future survival takes courage.

Add to this the fact that she plans to have an oophorectomy (ovarian removal) in the near future shows a woman making some very careful decisions about her health and physicians giving a woman all facts and letting her make the choices that are best for her. To have someone belittle both her decisions and the double mastectomies by claiming this is unnecessary surgery is beyond the pale to my mind.

Like Uptown Girl, I completely agree as well. Let me say, though, having just had genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 at the only "real" Moffitt Center--the one in Tampa (any comments?)--it is indeed not covered by insurance and the cost was $525, not $3,000. I would guess that if someone needing this testing could not afford it, there would be some kind of sliding scale or grant or some other kind of assistance.