Wednesday Buzz: Angelina Jolie opens up about Double Mastectomy

                           Source: gdb.voanews.com via Bianca on Pinterest

I was very curious to know what Angelina Jolie wanted everyone to know on the 10 o'clock news last night, but I didn't hang that long.

Angelina Jolie has revealed that she had a double mastectomy. You can read all about it, in an op-ed for the New York Times that was published on Tuesday. The actress says she had both breast surgically removed after her doctors estimated "an 87 percent risk of breast cancer" (NY Times).

Jolie says that she made the decision "to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could" (NY Times). In the article, she tells us "On April 27, I finished the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work” (NY Times).

Jolie hopes that from her experience, other women can benefit and seek preventive treatment. Since the surgery, her risk of developing breast cancer has dropped to under 5 percent. "I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer” (NY Times).

She also says she was very fortunate to have Brad Pitt supporting her throughout the process. “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", says Jolie (NY Times).

How sweet. And this is wonderful to hear. This was a very brave decision for Angelina Jolie. It has also just been reported that Jolie will undergo more surgery to have her ovaries removed (People). After revealing her double mastectomy, she still carries a 50 percent risk of developing ovarian cancer. There are no further details on that yet, as I don't imagine there would be especially if she wants to keep that private among her family.

Jolie's mom died of ovarian cancer in 2007.

For more on the story and to read Jolie's op-ed, visit Gossip Cop and the New York Times

Sources: NY Times, Gossip Cop