Pitt praises Jolie as ‘heroic’ after mastectomy op
Jolie said she was speaking out to encourage women to address threats to their health.
Pitt said: “Having witnessed this decision firsthand, I find Angie’s choice, as well as so many others like her, absolutely heroic. I thank our medical team for their care and focus.
“All I want for is for her to have a long and healthy life, with myself and our children. This is a happy day for our family.”
Jolie, whose mother died of cancer at the age of 56, said she had managed to keep the issue quiet and continue working. Her medical procedures ended late last month. “But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience,” she said.
The 37-year-old actress wrote, in an opinion piece entitled “My Medical Choice” in The New York Times, that she had chosen the procedure because she carries a faulty gene that increases her risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.
Jolie said that because of this gene, known as BRCA1, her doctors estimated she had an 87% risk of breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian cancer.
“Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimise the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy,” she wrote.
“I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex.”
She said that on Apr 27 she completed the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. Jolie said her chances of developing breast cancer are down to 5%.
Jolie and Pitt have three adopted and three biological children. “I can tell my children they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer,” Jolie said.
Jolie described a several-stage surgical process, the main one of which is an operation that can take up to eight hours as the breast tissue is removed and temporary fillers are put in place.
“You wake up with drain tubes and expanders in your breasts. It does feel like a scene out of a science fiction film. But days after surgery you can be back to a normal life,” Jolie wrote.
The final phase involved reconstruction of the breasts with implants, she said. “There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years and the results can be beautiful.”
Jolie said Pitt has been a huge source of support.
“Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Centre, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries,” she said, adding that “we managed to find moments to laugh together”.
Jolie said she has only small scars after the ordeal.
“On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.”
Jolie said the cost of getting tested for BRCA1 and another faulty gene, called BRCA2, is more than $3,000 in the US and that this “remains an obstacle for many women”.
She said she hopes women living under the threat of cancer will be able to get tested. “Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of,” Jolie wrote.
British foreign secretary William Hague, who has been working with Jolie in the past few months in her role as UN special envoy for refugee issues to highlight the problem of sexual violence in conflict, said she was “a brave lady”.
Hague and Jolie visited Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo in March and joined forces at a meeting of G8 finance ministers last month to win a pledge to act against the use of rape as a weapon of war.
*What exactly are BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes?
BRCA1s and BRCA2s are “faulty” genes linked to a significant family history of breast cancer — an issue which accounts for 5% to 10% of all diagnoses of the condition.
They are faulty because a tiny code is missing in each gene. This causes a cascade effect when the gene multiplies, which in turn leads to a significantly increased risk of breast cancer.
*How closely are they linked to breast cancer?
While the existence of either gene is not a definitive confirmation that a woman will develop breast cancer, it does mean she has an up to 85% chance of being diagnosed.
In addition, she also has an up to 65% chance of developing ovarian cancer, which is linked to breast cancer — rates which the Irish Cancer Society describes as “very high”.
*How do I know if I am at risk?
A person is at risk of having one of these faulty genes if they have a significant family history of breast cancer — for instance, if they have at least two “first degree” relatives who were diagnosed with the condition.
If a healthy person believes they are at risk, they should go to their GP and describe the situation.
Should the GP believe there is cause for investigation, he or she will send the patient to one of Ireland’s eight cancer care centres of excellence.
After further examination, the person may be sent to the National Centre of Genetics at Crumlin Hospital, where they will undergo a free blood test to see if they carry either faulty gene.
The results will be known within six weeks of the test taking place.
However, due to a lack of funding, there is currently an 18-month waiting list for this test.
*If the test comes back positive, should I automatically have a double mastectomy?
Not necessarily.
The Irish Cancer Society stresses that while some people may wish to undergo a double mastectomy in this situation, others will opt for alternatives.
These include more regular mammograms and MRI scans to keep check of any potential changes in their body. Even in these cases, however, a double mastectomy may prove inevitable.
Due to the concrete answer the genetic test provides, anyone opting to undergo the test must first receive genetic counselling.
*Where can I find more information?
Further details are available from the Irish Cancer Society on the helpline 1800 200 700.
