The following is an excerpt.
Angelina Jolie’s New York Times op-ed about her preventative double mastectomy continues to generate news and commentary. For those who somehow missed the many headlines, Jolie decided to undergo these surgeries because a genetic test determined that she carries mutations in the BRCA1 gene, purportedly leading (in her case) to an 87% chance of developing breast cancer. She felt that a mastectomy, which will greatly lower her risk, was the way to be proactive and take control of the situation.
As many have noted, baring such intimate details to the world took courage, and may inspire women to be more proactive about their health. But the information she shared can also easily be misunderstood.
Read the full story here: Cancer Inc.