Angelina Jolie undergoes double mastectomy

Today Angelina Jolie revealed that she was forced to make the agonizing decision to have a preventative double mastectomy, after tests showed she had an 87 per cent chance of contracting cancer. The actress opened up about her traumatic experience in a U.S. newspaper, saying that she made the decision to undergo the procedure in February after learning that she is a carrier of the deadly BRCA1 cancer gene. The 37-year-old’s mother Marcheline Bertrand died at the age of 56 from ovarian cancer, which Angelina revealed she had a high chance of contracting.

She wrote: "My doctors estimated that I had an 87% risk of breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman. Those with a defect in BRCA1 have a 65% risk of getting it, on average. 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. 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."

The star’s surgery was successful and doctors say Angelina’s chances of developing breast cancer have now lowered to less than 5%.

“I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.”

The Hollywood star has not let the life-changing operation interfere with public engagements – she visited the Republic of Congo on March 26 on humanitarian duties and attended the G8 summit in London on April 11 with William Hague, after her initial operations but before the all the procedures had finished.

Angelina praised the support her fiancé Brad Pitt and their children, Maddox, 11, Pax, nine, Zahara, eight, Shiloh, six, and four-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, gave her during treatment.

"It is reassuring that they see nothing that makes them uncomfortable. They can see my small scars and that’s it. Everything else is just Mommy, the same as she always was. I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive. He 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."

Angelina assured that having the double mastectomy hasn’t changed the way she feels about herself and her womanliness, and added that results of reconstructive surgery ‘can be beautiful’.

"On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman," she said. "I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity."

In addition, the brave star hopes that she can encourage other women to be informed and consider their options.

source: dailymail.co.uk

to reveal – felfedni, feltárni
to be forced – rákénnyszerülni
agonizing – gyötrelmes, fájó
preventative – megelőző
mastectomy – melleltávolító műtét
to contract – (betegséget) elkapni
to undergo – átesni valamin
carrier – hordozó
ovarian – petefészek
to estimate – felbecsülni, felmérni, kiszámítani
defect – hiány, rendellenesség
on average – átlagban
surgery – műtét
to interfere – gátolni, megakadályozni, beavatkozni
engagement – kötelezettség, elfoglaltság, program
duty – kötelesség, szolgálat
to attend – részt venni, járni, jelen lenni
summit – csúcstalálkozó
initial – kezdeti, első
to praise – dícsérni
treatment – kezelés
reassuring – megnyugtató
scar – sebhely, heg
fortunate – szerencsés
supportive – támogató
to assure  – biztosítani, megnyugtatni
womanliness – nőiesség
empowered – feljogosult, képes, felhatalmazott
to diminish – kisebbíteni, csökkenteni
to encourage – bátorítani, buzdítani

ANGELINA JOLIE EREDETI ÍRÁSÁT ITT OLVASATOD:
NEW YORK TIMES/ANGELINA JOLIE