Angelina Jolie’s preventative double-mastectomy op-ed is the story of the day, and it’s all anyone can talk about. Us Weekly has a summary of some celebrity reactions – Sheryl Crow, Christina Applegate (both of whom have dealt with breast cancer and mastectomy issues) both tweeted their support for Angelina. A slew of other celebrities have tweeted and commented about it too, all of the comments positive and praising of Angelina and her informative, educational and inspirational op-ed. And in case you were wondering, Brad Pitt has issued a statement too. And so has UK Foreign Secretary (and Angelina’s latest BFF) William Hague.
Brad Pitt today hailed his fiancée Angelina Jolie as “heroic” after the actress revealed she has undergone a double mastectomy because of her extremely high cancer risk. Jolie, 37, revealed she had chosen the surgical procedure as a preventative measure after genetic tests revealed she had an 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer and a 50 per cent chance of ovarian cancer.
The Oscar-winning actress, whose mother Marcheline Bertrand died of ovarian cancer in 2007 at the age of 56, said she had taken the difficult decision so she could tell her children “they don’t need to fear they will lose me”.
Pitt told the Standard: “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.”
Amazingly, Jolie kept working throughout the past three months, making a high-profile trip to the Congo alongside William Hague and appearing at the G8 Summit in London last month to call for an end to sexual violence in conflict zones.
Mr Hague said today: “This is a brave choice by a remarkable woman. The courage it must have taken not only to go through this treatment but then to speak about it to help other women is truly inspiring. Throughout it all her humanitarian work has not missed a beat. This is a courageous decision by one of the bravest people I know. I wish her and her family the very best.”
God, I love Brad. I can just feel how this really did bring them closer together. And I think this is probably why we haven’t heard much about their wedding plans too – they wanted to get all of this stuff sorted out before they officially tied the knot. They are in it for the long haul – the fact that Brad was there every step of the way says that.
People Magazine has a story about how Brad and Angelina kept their schedules “normal” and how they’ve really just been focusing a lot on their kids, like always.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
These two have the kind of love and support for each other that makes me weep.
I love how they bring each other up, speak with respect and show us all a dose of a Hollywood relationship that completely makes sense.
Class acts. Love.
This is lovely. I dont trust hollywood relationships though. The “Brad Pitt caught with cocktail waitress” headline could be just a few months away. Or it may be an “Angie busted in a minicooper with director” headline. The second I buy the true-love narrative theres always a mega scandal. So I’ll just say that Brad is sweet but retain a healthy dose of cynicism.
(Any member of the fan army inclined to take this too seriously – relax)
Agree! Of course he’s going to say something like this whether he is supportive or not. Personally I believe he is but who knows for sure.
+1
While I’m always happy when awareness is raised (I am a survivor who was blessed to catch the caner at 36) = EVERYTHING these two do is staged and timed – so bravo on helping others – but definitely no need to buy into the whole story.
Brad’s response made me cry. It’s so nice to hear a loving and supporting comment. What a love story, and what a family!
ITA. These days celebrity gossip always seems to be about who split, who’s cheating, who has a supposedly open relationship, and etc.
It’s so refreshing and touching to hear about a couple who can live through something so rough together and (hopefully) come out stronger for it.
There is no doubt in my mind that these two aren’t in it for the long haul. Behind all the camera’s and pageantry, there is something very real and profound here. They’re a family who has ups and downs like the rest of us. They are going to get through this together, as a family.
aims: You meant to say ARE in it for the long haul, right?
@bluhare: LOL I make the same mistake a lot. Those double negatives can be confusing.
+1
His love and support of Angie makes him even more attractive.
Their relationship truly has been strength to strength, they are an incredible team!
I respect her choice and think it’s a smart one but heroic is a bit much IMO.
I agree. I wish her the best and I am glad she came out to talk about it… I didn’t realise how extensive the surgery was and that implants were involved. It’s fascinating. But she’s not a hero.
Maybe he means heroic in that Angelina’s choice will influence others? Selfless and brave are perfect words to describe it imo.
@Yeahright, who wrote: “I agree. I wish her the best and I am glad she came out to talk about it… I didn’t realise how extensive the surgery was and that implants were involved. It’s fascinating. But she’s not a hero.”
She may not be ‘your’ hero, but she is to her man and her children … for taking this brave step to ensure she’ll be a part of their lives for many years to come.
And who are you to decide whether or not Angie’s actions are heroic to Brad or not? If this were your man, mother, or child I’ll bet you’d find it pretty ‘heroic’ then.
As for me, just like Brad said—-I find Jolie’s choice—as well as so many others like her, absolutely heroic. Even if it’s only for a small circle of friends and family or to yourself.
I don’t think you need to save thousands of people first before you qualify to be called as a hero. My late grandma who divorced and had a hard time raising 4 daughters as a single mother without the help of money from other people—including her ex!!—is my hero to this day.
Cancer is a personal war and if you fight for that instead of just giving up, I’d say you’re a hero too. It’s not an easy thing to do for any woman. JMO.
She is to her man. And I’d wager we’d all think the same about our significant others if we were in that position.
That he calls it heroic is almost gag inducing. They are both completely self-important. Hell, it was probably time to redo the implants and she went for it all at once.
@Bird What an ugly thing to say. What is wrong with you?
I find any cancer survivor having to make these difficult decision, taking the proactive way or fighting it whichever way they decided; and then to use their stories to help others — it’s heroic. Just by reading her piece, I learned many new things and understand much more about key issues for cancer patients.
That’s what I took out of it, she is a huge public figure with the ability to influence others.
She is not a cancer survivor, as she has never had cancer.
I wish her the best. I am sure it was a difficult thing to do, but smart and selfless IMO.
The word hero is used way too much – its meaning has been thoroughly bastardised.
Someone isn’t a hero for just doing something brave – or simply living through their own experiences. I am not a hero for sky diving, even though it took courage. Sick people are not heroes… the media always seems to try make that happen.
It probably sounds as if I am a horrible person right? Someone surviving a horrible illness and coming out happy and positive is amazing, inspiring, great etc. But that person is not a hero.
@Lex
You don’t sound like a terrible person to me at all. In fact, I completely agree.
For me, a hero is someone who could have chosen not to react without too much consequence but instead chose to inconvenience him/herself for no personal gain and to the benefit of others.
Not dying prematurely is quite a personal gain in my book.
@Lex
Come sit by me.
Well said!
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heroic
of, relating to, resembling, or suggesting heroes especially of antiquity
a : exhibiting or marked by courage and daring
b : supremely noble or self-sacrificing
a : of impressive size, power, extent, or effect
b (1) : of great intensity : EXTREME (2) : of a kind that is likely only to be undertaken to save a life
: of, relating to, or constituting drama written during the Restoration in heroic couplets and concerned with a conflict between love and honor
To you it’s not heroic. To those who agree with you it’s not heroic. To her children, friends, Brad, and rest of family it is heroic. To people struggling with the same decision and the same family history her actions were brave and self-sacrificing. She wanted to live, but she also didn’t want her children to feel the same depression she felt when her mother suffered and died.
We can debate back and forth on what being a “hero and what is a true “”heroic” action all day, but to some the term is being used correctly. To others it’s not. In the end we aren’t the ones to tell her family what they think is heroic in their mother’s actions isn’t actually heroic. That’s their choice based on their feelings.
Actually FLORC, I am struggling with the same decision (hysterectomy, not mastectomy) and I don’t find it heroic in the least.
I find it irritating that she volunteered to have this procedure done, I find it irritating that it’s now going to become a public discussion and minimised by popular culture. It annoys me that people are going to use her as an example of it being an easy decision and it being painted as the ‘responsible’ thing to do for anyone with this kind of family history who has children. Truthfully, I don’t want my female organs surgically removed for a disease that has (slim) chances of never developing.
I am, of course, completely venting but am anxious about what has been a serious personal struggle for me being brought into the limelight as an open discussion for people who can’t relate but want to paint this as bravery and ‘the right thing to do’.
This was her decision and more power to her and speedy recovery, but I don’t want her decision to be used against my decision in the next few years.
Miffy, why does her decision upset you? She did not make it lightly, and no one is taking it lightly. I know women who have tested positive for the BRAC gene. Two opted to have mastectomies. Two did not. One of the women who did not have surgery now has breast cancer. It has spread to her lungs and her brain. It was a very aggressive cancer and she has gone home to die. She will leave 5 children.
Your decision is personal. Just as hers was. I made the decision to not have a hysterectomy. Three doctors told me I should. I found one to do it my way. This is YOUR body. YOUR decision. If you are comfortable with it, that is the only thing that matters.
And Jolie has not had a hysterectomy. Just a mastectomy. How can anyone hold that against you?
Her chances of getting the disease was 87% She was also a smoker. Why take chances with those odds? And why fault her? I have inherited every disease my mother had, as have my nieces and their children. It scares me. She died a horrible death. If I could have preventive surgery, I would. I can’t. So don’t fault those who can.
Miffy
My mother in law had a full hysterectomy because she had a benign football sized tumor in her uterus. She chose what was right her her and her body. She chose to take precautionary measures she would be around for her family.
You are venting and that’s fine, but you’re also attacking someone for their actions because you don’t want it talked about. AJ is not telling you to do anything you don’t want to. She’s sharing her personal experience and from a logical standpoint she is correct. I hate it when people talk about fertility issues because I am currently struggling with it, but it’s their right to talk about their personal experiences and I don’t hold that against them.
My post was also in response to how people define “heroic” and that’s a relative term at this point.
It’s not an easy decision. It’s hard on the body. She’s not saying that it’s easy to go through it. can hate AJ and look for any nit picking was to attack her. This argument is absurd. People
Even though it’s probably too late to clarify, I will 🙂 Purely for my own conscience.
I didn’t mean to attack her, my reaction was a purely emotional knee-jerk response to being exposed to yet more female-based cancer but on a much broader scale. After losing my mother to ovarian cancer and testing positive for the gene, I knew I’d have to look at preventive surgery from the age of 17. I thought I’d be dealing with this in my 40’s. I only found out a few months ago that I would have to make a decision on a full hysterectomy within the next five years, I’m 27 and due to complications with my last labour I have to wait a certain period before I can have another baby, that baby does not fall in with the timeline of the hysterectomy decision. I never wanted a huge family but it would have been nice if the decision got to be mine.
Then the day before Angelina Jolie announced her mastectomy my 25 year old friend found out she has precancerous cells that must be removed immediately and it hasn’t been ruled out that she doesn’t have the Big C.
When Angelina told her story my usual online haunts for escapism were flooded with preventive surgery stories.
My reaction was selfish, she has probably done more good and raised more awareness for genetic based cancers than anyone in the space of 24 hours, but I’ve lost my little hide aways from my own reality for the time being.
I vented here because there’s no one I can explode at in real life, I have to keep it together for the sake of friends and family. Apologies if that offended anyone.
Very brave yes, but not heroic. We toss that word around too much in this world, its lost its value.
This isn’t about you and ‘your’ opinion. If Brad thinks his woman is heroic for her actions, than she is.
I still disagree. True many people abused the word but in this case, she could very will be someone’s hero, especially someone faced with similar decision or situation, she could have given them life changing info or inspire them to take action.
m, to us maybe, and I take your point.
But to Brad? She’s his heroine for taking it on and thinking about their family.
Totally different (although I do agree with the people above talking about heroism being a bit bastardised these days).
A couple of definitions of heroic…
“behaviour or talk that is bold or dramatic”
“having or involving recourse to boldness, daring, or extreme measures”
I think Angelina Jolie’s decision could easily be categorised as heroic.
one of the definitions of “hero” is: one who shows great courage
Just sayin’ and your mileage may vary.
I took it to meant that to Brad, Angie’s actions were heroic.
I’m pretty sure that if I went through the same thing my husband would say the same thing.
That’s different from labeling someone a hero for all people.
ITA.
I think it can be in relation to Brad and her kids. She did choose to undergo a very serious, painful series of procedures to try to up her chances of being around for him and their kids for much longer. In the op-ed, she seems to really stress that she was motivated less by her own desire to stay alive and more by a desire to stay with her family. On a personal level, that can certainly make her actions heroic to her family.
Brad might be referring to Angie giving up her beautiful breasts so she can watch her children grow up. Angie is a sex bomb with brains, and very devoted to her family. A lot of women would rather not do the procedure and hope for the best.
My mom lost both her breasts, 18 years apart. She was clinging to her one breast and it almost killed her..because her 2nd breast was removed at age 68 and she barely made it thru the surgery & subsequent agonizing recovery. My dear Mum kept internally bleeding, despite the drainage pump attached to her body. This continued for two weeks after surgery.
If women could actually visualize the horror of almost dying on the operating table, perhaps they would not delay the inevitable.
Brad is a good man, and i admire his support for Angie & their family.
I thought he was referring to the public statement about it, not just the act.
Also, have you made the choice to have both of your breasts removed? Do you have any conception of how that might feel? Maybe you would feel like a bit of a hero, too, if you made a very, very difficult choice like that?
I think her decision was heroic, as was issuing a statement about what happened rather than letting it get to the media via “sources” and “leaks.”
Why are we even debating this? Why do people think they have the right to judge if this is or isn’t important and heroic?
Seriously, focus on your own health. When was the last time you had a mammogram, if ever? Careful how to handle women’s testimonies. You don’t want to be where they’ve been.
So many of these comments are incredibly disrespectful to cancer survivors, not to mention ignorant, tasteless and naive. You must think you’re made of steel. Some of you probably can’t even get out of bed if you have the flu.
To hop on to the ‘hero’ discussion, this isn’t the first time Brad described Angelina in this way. I looked through my old mags and came across the People issue featuring Knox and Vivienne. In it, he described Angelina enduring the caesarian for the twins as heroic. Was he being over the top when he used heroic to describe that? Maybe… but then again, like the caesarian, deciding to have a preventative double mastectomy is largely within the female domain. Yes, breast cancer can happen to men and sadly, male breast cancer isn’t talked about enough, but I would wager that men don’t have their identities wrapped into their pecs/breasts like women do.
Brad bore witness to Angelina making this choice, explaining this to their children, the surgeries and the aftermath. He also bore witness to the births of the biological children and the last stage of Marcheline’s life and the impact of her death on her children. He is not wrong for believing that Angelina is heroic. Hell, I would hope that any man/significant other whose wife/partner make a hard decision like this would see her as heroic too.
Sasa. — I agree. I think the adjective heroic is a bit much
My first thought was about why she remover her breasts but did not remove her ovaries. Her mother died of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is insidious and a sneaky silent killer.
Between ovarian and breast cancer I think she would have been wiser to remove the ovaries or remove the breasts AND ovaries.
I just don’t understand that she would be so radical with the breasts and not the ovaries.
Breast eighty seven percent Ovarian fifty percent
It appeared from her statement that she’s planning on doing something with the ovaries in the near future.
I see her as a hero to those six kids who will, I hope, have her around for a long time
I agree. She has six kids and 86 % risk of getting cancer. The decision to remove her breasts is a no brainer, not heroic. Especially when her own mother battled cancer and lost.
I think heroic is perfectly acceptable when your partner is saying it. If I made a decision like that, I like to think my husband would call me heroic. I don’t expect it from anyone else!
I also think it’s a braver decision to make when you are an actress whose sexy figure is a large part of your allure and your ability to command a large salary. She could also have done it but not told anyone. By making it public she may well inspire other women to make similar decisions and save their lives. What is a hero, if not someone who saves others?
They’ve got to come up with another solution besides major surgery for women at high risk. My only immediate relative that had breast cancer was my grandma, but she got it a age 81, so I’m not too worried.
Best wishes to your Grandma 🙂
I read an article in the Guardian today related to Jolie’s mastectomy coverage, and it mentioned how women aged 70 or over who are diagnosed with certain types of breast cancer usually aren’t given much treatment except for palliative care in some cases.
There’s something about that which bugs me. No matter what your age, I think you have the right to be treated however *you* decide.
I’m not entirely sure where I’m going with this, but there we are. A friend of mine whose mother had cancer had a treatment known as Gamma Knife, I believe. From what I’ve heard it’s quite accurate, but I agree that more options need to be made available.
Final note; I love that William Hague made a comment. I can’t stand our government at the moment, but I do have a soft spot for him.
Thanks Amelia. Grandma was operated on and now she’s in remission. She’s a real trooper.
@Amelia,
I am by no means an expert on any of this, I just have my parent’s stories to relate. My mom got breast cancer at 75, and her treatment involved radiation. Her doctors were lovely, her treatment was non-invasive and worked.
My dad got prostate cancer at 80 and was administered hormones. We were advised that elderly people die WITH their cancers, not OF it. That proved true for dad.
We are currently battling, tooth and nail, yet another cancer, this one involves a younger, stronger, member of my family. Our oncologist explained simply, younger, stronger people have younger stronger cancer. Wish us luck!
So, I don’t think that the different treatment protocols indicate variant levels of respect for life, just the treatment community trying to do the best for each individual person.
By the way, it is likely that the protocols for the younger person could not be tolerated by the elder even if they wanted it.
Best wishes to your family, Guilty Pleasure, I hope your family member recovers well.
I’m not particularly clued up on treatment options for cancer patients, I’m just reiterating the little knowledge I’ve collected from friends and the Guardian!
There are just a few horror stories floating around about how the NHS is working at the moment (or, perhaps, not working).
Anywho. All the best 🙂
It’s moreso a choice regarding elderly cancer patients, different cancers need different treatments, some of those treatments are extrememly harsh so it comes down to a quality of life decision.
Not the biggest Brange fan but I appreciate her speaking out about this. If Brad calls her “heroic” I don’t see how that is hurting anyone else. I wish her many years with her children
I think this answers why they have been engaged for so long. Not that it matters – what matters is his love and support for her and for the family they created.
They have only being engaged since April 2012.Naomi and Liev have been engaged five years. Is being engaged 13 months a long time,just asking?
Yep, I’m officially crying now. I’m so glad that Angelina shared her story.
Happy Belated Mother’s Day to her.
*tear*
I did not expect anything less from Brad. Those two, they got together for a reason, and let me tell you it’s for the long haul.
Nice words from William Hague?! Lorks, Ange makes men I find a touch repellent likeable!
Bless him coming and going. It must have been hard, but he is with her and that kind of support and love can’t be faked. They are lucky to have each other.
I’m not sure if i find this “heroic” at all, but at least she got the choice. Most women in the world would never be able to afford either gene testing or preventative mastectomies.
Chapters of the Susan G. Komen Foundation provide grant funding in many areas of the country that support breast cancer related services, including genetic testing, for low income women. And although not enough, there are other organizations across the country providing much needed support for women with limited incomes who are at risk for breast cancer or have been diagnosed with breast cancer and require treatment. Often the work of these organizations is supported by giving and/or volunteer efforts by the community. We all define “heroic” actions and people in different way, but one way we increase support to services for all women is to raise awareness of the need for and importance of providing support for such services. Angie made what I think is a brave decision to not only have the surgery (and all surgeries come with risks), but to also talk about her experience. If nothing else, many more women know that if there is a history of breast or ovarian cancer in the family, that genetic testing is available to help you assess your own risk.
This! I mean most women I know can’t even afford the test in my country let alone such surgery. So using a word “heroic” is a little bit too much. What’s so heroic about preventing an illness?
This may not seem heroic to some people, but in Brad’s eyes she is a hero.
Here’s why I love how she made this statement: today we are having the discussion about women’s health and access to good health care. We are having a discussion we wouldn’t have had yesterday, and one we wouldn’t be having otherwise. Women may not only be stepping up and getting tested, but may be demanding more from their health care providers and insurance companies. That’s a big deal.
I’m sorry she had to go thought this and I’m sure it was frightening for her and her family. But there was nothing “heroic” in her choice. If you had the choice between saving your breasts or saving your life, who wouldn’t make the exact same decision as her, really?
Some may not have. I have lost a lot of internal organs, when it came time for the bladder to go at 30 yrs old having already lost a part of my colon & all reproductive organs at that time (more since), my sister flat out said she would have chosen the alternative than live w/ a Urostomy. (Alternative being death… She still stands by that 17 yrs later).
Eh, some people aren’t motivated by their own lives. They either don’t value them that much, or believe that death is natural or just don’t want to mess with their quality of life. But a lot of people will take steps to save themselves if they believe that their family, or somebody else, needs them to stick around. We can’t be sure of Angelina’s motivation. Her op-ed stresses that she did it to up the chances of being around for her kids for a long time. Maybe it wasn’t her urge towards self-preservation that was driving her.
Someone on other post just said it was a silly choice and she went overboard.So no everyone wouldnt make the same decision.
There was a blind about A list actress being treated for cancer.. maybe it was her. And maybe the tabloids were about to out her so she had to come out with a story.
Anyone battling cancer or having a loved one battle it, is heroic in my opinion.
It is easy to call someone else’s choice “silly” when it’s not your own life hanging in the balance.
This blogger offers a very interesting perspective on the whole bravery thing, and it is so true.
http://www.butdoctorihatepink.com/2011/07/things-people-say-to-breast-cancer.html
I’d not use word “heroic”. It’s abuse. It was smart and rational move. But not “heroic”.
@Leelee, who wrote: “I’d not use word “heroic”. It’s abuse. It was smart and rational move. But not “heroic”.”
Perhaps not to you … but Brad thinks it is, for him and his kids.
As a 2x ovarian cancer survivor, I am thankful people like Angelina are not afraid to put their own issues out there for awareness. I say God Bless ALL of them. I did get teary eyed, Brad seems to treat Angelina the same way my spouse treats me. That makes us both very lucky women. 🙂
Bless.
+1000
Absolutely incredible! I’m floored. Angie is indeed a remarkable woman.
At this point who cares if they get married? They’re a great couple, marriage won’t make any difference to them i guess, maybe they’ll do it only for the kids. but i can see them being together regardless that piece of paper. I would love to see them as bf and gf forever, in my opinion is even more romantic when you choose each other every day
If she saves the life of ONE person through her personal experience, then yes that is indeed heroic. Imagine being scrutinized about every aspect of you and come out with this major and personal decision, oh yes she is heroic and I guarantee that this will inspire women to at least get tested.
Except the tests cost thousands of dollars (Angelina’s was $3,000 and that only tested for ONE specific gene) and most insurances don’t cover genetic testing. While some foundations will provide for low-income women, most will never be able to do it.
And then what if someone DOES get tested and find out they’re at high risk? A preventative mastectomy and reconstruction can cost $25,000+
I do think it was brave of her to write about it, but this is not something that most women can choose to do if they want to.
Did you not read the article? Not all women need to do what she did and nobody is saying it’s the only option. Why do people feel the need to shit on this occasion just for the sake of posting a comment? What exactly are you getting at with posting the costs of her treatment? That poor women are going to die regardless? What is your goal with that reply?
How about you just take away from this story that you should go regularly to your gyno and take breast cancer seriously?
That is true, most women cannot afford it; but, that does not mean that it has to stay that way. Bringing these issue out in the open is a way to effectively champion change. I feel that this is the right platform to do that it may be a baby step; but it is still a step ahead in the right direction.
There is a world outside the United States you know. This story has gone global, and there are many women who live in countries like Canada, Germany,Framce and the UK (to name a few), who are able to access their national health service, and get the test and any recommended treatment at no personal cost. Many women in these countries, will have the test as a result of Angelina Jolie’s personal experience.
Yes, it’s extremely unfortunate that America’s health system limits access to these treatments for women who don’t have the financial means, but lets try not to blame Angelina Jolie for the state of the American healthcare system.
“Except the tests cost thousands of dollars (Angelina’s was $3,000 and that only tested for ONE specific gene) and most insurances don’t cover genetic testing.”
Ack – NO! Don’t spread disinformation.
The $3k test looks at two genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) and tests for over a hundred known mutations. It’s actually a battery of tests (which is a large part of the reason it costs so much). If you just want to know about one specific mutation (say the one your mum was diagnosed with), then it’s $300-$400.
And ALL non-grandfathered insurance plans must offer BRCA testing to high-risk patients for free (no co-pay or anything). http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-aca12.html
You’re right about a $25k preventative mastectomy being out of reach for the general person, but you ruin your whole argument when you start off with a bunch of BS.
I’ve been running around this forum today trying to stomp out misinformation and keep finding myself a step behind Lucrezia.
So I’ll just say: Read Lucrezia’s comments, people!
Heh, you beat me at least once Suze. And you seem to be much better at general sympathy … at the moment I’m so frustrated with all the misinformation (not just here on Celebitchy, on various other sites) that I’m starting to snap at people.
If there’s anyone who can influence politicians, it’s Angelina.
Lucrezia, I am really impressed by your knowledge of US laws and insurance regulations – most of us stateside don’t have that breadth of knowledge.
I think most of the US folks are so used to hearing how our health care system sucks that we don’ focus on the protections we do have.
I was thinking of doing genetic counselling for a while (dabbled in genetics, then swapped to psychology). I ended up not doing it, but the laws and ethics surrounding genetic testing is still something that fascinates me. So I do have a bit of background knowledge, while still being far from an expert.
The thing is, this info is so easily available on the internet that all you have to do is look for it. Just so many Americans grew up hearing (true) horror-stories about testing that they don’t even think to check the current law.
Hopefully, by sharing her story, Jolie will bring some much-needed attention to the area.
Brad sounds awesome. I have dealt with some medical issues recently (none nearly as serious as cancer, at all). My husband told me that it can be extremely hard on a man to see his wife/girlfriend/partner dealing with medical stuff, largely because many men want to help and seeing their partner in pain or sick and not being able to help them is hard to deal with. So he had his own burden to bear during the process. I’m sure this has brought them even closer (seems hard to imagine that it wouldn’t).
Angelina is great. I will never understand who, after all these years, would still hate her or be “Team Aniston”. Eventhough getting involved with someone else’s husband is never ok, their affair was never meaningless (like some affairs we’ve seen recently, that only helped end marriages for nothing). They have raised a large family together and I think Angelina has so much depth and subtance as a person, which we really don’t see in actresses, or women we know in real life.
Time to let go of tabloid scandal and just appreciate her for who she is and what she’s done.
You are the only one bringing it up.
Team Everybody.
I bring it up because people love to hate on Angelina on this site, and on many gossip sites for that matter because of shit that happened years ago, giving her no respect because of that, no matter what she does. There’s actual commenters here judging whether or not this was heroic or if it was important to even share what she did when most women can’t afford it. It’s truly sad that people won’t let go of their dislike even in moments like this.
And I will never be “Team Everyone”. While Jennifer keeps pushing her wedding date back to not coincide in tabloids with Angelina, Angelina was making the difficult decision to have her breasts removed so that her children were never at risk of losing their mother like she did. Talk about being insecure, empty and selfinvolved. I’ll never be Team That.
Annie: I see no hate for Angelina today. Not even a smidgeon.
@bluhare: No negativity on here but check out some other web sites. It’s really disheartening.
Janet: That’s probably why I have a select set of sites I go to. Not into sites where every time someone responds to you it’s “Fool!!” or “Idiot!” Some people have some really repressed anger issues. 🙂
Either that or I’m a fool and an idiot. (You don’t have to confirm either of those!!)
I agree 100%! It’s time for everybody to let the whole Angelina Jolie/Jennifer Anniston thing go. I don’t condone having affairs with other peoples’ spouses whether you’re a male or female. I think it’s selfish and shows a lack of respect for other peoples’ relationships. But I don’t think it’s something that a person should be forever hated for either. This happened what, 8 or 9 years ago? It’s time for society to move on- including Jennifer Anniston and her friends. And the fact that Angelina Jolie has gotten the majority of the hate over the affair is just an example of sexism. Wasn’t Brad a consenting adult and an equal participant in the affair? Wasn’t he the married one? They did something wrong, but it was years ago and Brad and Jen’s relationship is over. Brad and Angelina are in love and together. The end.
Amen and ^5.
Well my mother died from breast cancer at the age of 46 after a ten year battle.I just made an appointment with my doctor to discuss this test .I have being getting regular mammograms since I was 25 but I have never considered taking this test.Not sure if my insurance will cover the cost.I guess Ill find out at my appt Friday.
Good luck. I hope everything is ok.
Brad is allowed to think she is heroic! Maybe AJ is a hero to him and their children.
People can’t complain about anything else, so they jump on that one word.
+100000000000000
Good point!
She made a hard choice to never have to worry about leaving their kids without a mom. It’s not easy mutilating parts of your body. It was heroic, especially when you consider the awareness she’s raising worldwide. There’s women who NEVER go to the gyno and have never had a breast exam. Why is everyone saying all women would do the same if faced with the same dilemma? I have friends who have never gone to the gyno in their life and they’re in their twenties or have had babies. Or they never go unless they have an infection or something. They never have regular pap smears or mammograms. And people think what she did was like getting her tonsils removed?
I just hope all these women leaving passive aggressive comments have gone to their gyno in the past 6 months and understand that what she did was pretty huge, and because of her profile, raising awareness is probably saving lives.
Annie, when you talk about “these women” leaving “passive aggressive” comments, well, it sounds a bit passive aggressive.
Helpfully yours,
bluhare
@bluhare, who wrote: “Annie, when you talk about “these women” leaving “passive aggressive” comments, well, it sounds a bit passive aggressive.
Helpfully yours,
bluhare”
There is nothing whatsoever ‘passive/aggressive’ in any of Annie’s posts. She hasn’t pulled anything close to the “I wouldn’t call it ‘heroic'” crap at all. She has been honest and frank about her feelings and has called people out on the subject. Passive/aggressive people don’t openly do anything … that’s what makes them/their comments passive/aggressive.
Emma: Passive aggressive is being aggressive while appearing passive, hence the name. Thereby, by saying “some people” are saying “some things” the confrontation with the people whose issues are disagreed with is avoided. Ergo, passive aggressive.
Personally, I prefer a discussion with the person who actually made the comment. Like now.
“She made a hard choice to never have to worry about leaving their kids without a mom”
what about that decision is hard? You have your breasts and 87 % risk of getting cancer, and then you have your six young children. To me, it’s a no brainer. Cut my tits off and reduce the risk with 82 %! I like Angelina but wouldn’t call it difficult/heroic/a hard decision. Brad has a right to find it heroic, we have the right to not find it heroic.
But hopefully the fact that she brings attention to breast cancer will make women examine their breasts. And some might find lumps early and win the battle against cancer. Like when Kylie got it
@Bluhare, who wrote: “Emma: Passive aggressive is being aggressive while appearing passive, hence the name.”
Again, there was ‘nothing’ passive or slyly ambiguous about Annie’s posts. What part of your own definition don’t you understand?
Emma. I understand my post, and I appreciate your dedication to your friend. Lets leave it at that.
To the person who suggested she did this because she wanted breast implants, I suggest your educate yourself about the BRAC 1 gene. Her risk of developing breast cancer was extremely high. I find it sad that you are so cynical.You clearly don’t understand that having breast implants is very different from actually having a three stage operation in which your own breast tissue is removed entirely and expanders placed in your chest wall for a period of time before implants are inserted.
Some of the comments here and in the other thread just make me shake my head with exasperation. So many snide comments about her not being “heroic”. Fine, her choices may not be heroic TO YOU but to her partner, and the father of her children, SHE IS HEROIC. I’m sure her kids feel the same too.
And then the other coments about how it’s not really that big of a deal because she’s rich enough to afford the procedures. Yes, she has the resources but by drawing attention to the subject, maybe now people will start pushing for changes that will make this feasible for everyone. Is that a long shot? Probably. But at least it’s a push towards something positive.
Yep.
I’m with you 100 percent.
Oh for goodness sake…
I don’t find the act of prolonging one’s life a heroic one, I find it a smart one. Sue me. Brad may think green is in fact purple but I’m free to disagree with him and even call it red if I want to.
Those of you who are having issues with Angie’s actions not being heroic in everyone’s mind are making a martyr out of her. I don’t buy a sane person wanting to prolong his/her life purely for the sake of the children and not to, you know, get to LIVE LONGER, conveniently being around for the kids as well.
I don’t see any martyrdom creation here.
Brad thinks she’s heroic. You don’t.
Some people agree with Brad. Some with you.
I see martyrdom when people presume she did it purely for the sake of the kids. I don’t pretend to know her motivation but making the “she put her children’s benefit above the horror of body mutilation” assumption is pretty far fetched to me.
Sasa, some people DO do stuff they wouldn’t do for themselves for their kids. I was never particularly observant about my own health until I had a child. If it were solely me alone, I’d take my chances. Once I met my husband, I would do a little more. But once I had my child, I would do a lot more. Some people really don’t value their own lives that greatly, or they would not put themselves through pain and suffering if only for themselves. Having kids creates new responsibilities, and perhaps AJ felt she needed to honor those responsibilities by doing this. My mom had procedures done when her kids were young. She’s openly told us that if the same thing happened today, with us grown, she would take more of a risk, since we are independent now and wouldn’t lose as much.
So in short, just because you can’t imagine it, or doing it yourself, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Plenty of people on this thread are pointing that out.
I CAN imagine it. Also, I’m not saying it was not Angie’s motivation, perhaps it was. All I’m saying is- it’s presumptuous to assume that for a fact.
And even if she flat out came out and said “I would so NOT have done this if it weren’t for my kids” (which she wouldn’t do because the whole point of coming out publicly with this is to inspire others to take control over THEIR OWN health regardless of their individual circumstances) I still wouldn’t consider it a heroic act. It’s just so much more rationally smart than heroic, that word doesn’t even come to mind.
“I don’t find the act of prolonging one’s life a heroic one, I find it a smart one. Sue me. Brad may think green is in fact purple but I’m free to disagree with him and even call it red if I want to.”
In which case you would also be wrong so that example really did nothing to support your point.
No one is saying you have to herald her as a hero, but as HER partner and someone who has to live and suppor tthe choices she made, he is afforded that right.
I find it sad (and pathetic) that his admiration of her choices bother you that much.
@Elle
Lol. Sure.
You are the one who is apparently reading Brad’s mind and speaking on his behalf when it is absolutely redundant. I ALLOW Brad to think of Angie as a hero, is that all better now? I’m sure he’s so relieved by my generosity.
I originally wrote “I respect her decision and think it’s a smart one but heroic is a bit much IMO”. That got people up in arms which is the only thing I have an issue with because my opinion was: 1. my own and clearly stated as so, 2. not negative at all.
And for the record, I purposefully said red and not green to illustrate how subjective opinions can be. That worked in Brad’s favor. Because I don’t dislike the man. I just think he missed the mark with the “heroic” thing.
Sasa, I was reading from her op-ed. In that, she openly states that she did the surgeries so that her children would have a lesser risk of losing her. So she sorta does come out and say she did it for her kids.
And I kinda curious – if you define heroism differently and consider self-preservation as the smartest, most rational choice, what do you define as heroism? For example, a soldier throwing himself on a grenade to save another is comitting a deeply irrational and unintelligent choice, by your argument, since the most rational thing one can do is self-preservation. But does heroism by definition then mean doing things that are less than rational? In theory, the soldier has done something quite dumb – sacrificing his own life to save another who might not even be that valuable. If the definition of heroism is doing something to benefit others, then how does this not fit? AJ went through an extremely painful and nasty process for the benefit of her children. Can that not be heroic for the kids? And who actually gets to define heroism?
@Sam
I stated my definition of heroism up thread, so please look there if interested.
But yeah, in my personal definition heroism does require some degree of irrationally. Sometimes it’s so impulsive and in the moment that you don’t really get the chance to ration yourself out of the action. Other times it’s intentionally irrational because the alternative seems worth it to the person (hero).
Who defines what words mean? People do. Language is an evolving thing, a tool for expressing and bettering ourselves through communication. The lovely thing is: everyone gets to participate.
100% agree!
btw agreed with Elle!
Thank you! I’m beyond pissed at the people who’ve never lived with the fear trying to bring her down.
No one makes this decision lightly. No one.
I’m thrilled she has a partner who loves her and supports her. She has children, who’ll hopefully never have to know the pain she felt when she lost her mother to this insidious disease.
Bravo. Great comment.
@laylajanelovesgossip …
Wow … I just, have no words here … I feel very, VERY sorry for you and everyone in your life affected by your mean spirit.
May you gain Grace and learn humility in your life.
Are we really going to quibble about a word at this point? I think Brad uses the word “heroic” to mean that Angelina made a very difficult choice that would drastically affect her body and her life so she could ensure that she would be around to see her children grow up. That may not make her a hero to everyone, but I think that makes her a hero to her children.
At a time like this, I’d just let the man say whatever he wants to say. No matter how rich, famous, or privileged you are, this is a difficult, emotional situation.
Totally different procedure. With just implants you get to keep your breast tissue. She is getting them to replace her breast tissue.
Never a big Pitt fan, but this has made me like him more. As for the nasty comments about Angelina being “manipulative” – OMG are you for reals?
I TOTALLY believe it brought them close. If you know anybody who has been through a masectomy and the recuperation after (VERY painfuL) as I do, the partner plays an important part to their emotional and physical recovery. The couple I know said it’s life-changing to go through that with someone and makes you appreciate your family and love. I too think these 2 are in it for the long haul.
In almost 10 years they have beent through illness, then death of her mother, adoption, birth and now this, ALL big life changes!! The biggest challeng/life change he experienced with a past partner was likely choosing what beach to vacation on. Imagine you have one who s committed to having shiney hair and the other to her family and health, that says alot!!
Oh my people are picking at the word heoric.. seriously. He used the term for her and every other woman that has faced that decision. Gosh the need to find something.
He was asked once who his hero was.. and his reply was “the mommy of my children”
I guess that statement still holds true. I loved his reply and yes I think they love each other and are committed to each other and their children.
This puts life in perspective, doesn’t it? What an amazing women she is. I’m in awe of both Brad & Angelina… No matter what the future holds, she is an inspiration.
They show me what true love and long-term partnership are like. And again I pray for Angie, Brad and their family.
My love for both of these people is gushing and unadulterated today. Can’t say more than that.
This made me cry.
Brad is a great guy…i personally known two women who had cancer…their respective boyfriend left them less than a month after it was officially declared because they couldn’t see themselves with a woman who has to fight cancer.
So many people still act like they will catch it too if they stay with someone who has it.
Now one of those ladies just passed away alone with nobody at her side. The other isn’t in remission and has only girlfriends who visit her the days when she doesn’t have chemo as it makes her sick as hel…Her ex is already with someone else…
My aunt’s husband left her after she had a modified radical mastectomy.He was a “breast” man.Good riddance
Oh God !
Hope your aunt is doing well. As for this poor excuse of a man, i just have no words…
Didn’t want the entire package? Didn’t care about the brain or the heart or the personality?
Goodbye. Don’t let the screen door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.
Hopefully he found a nice pair of breasts to marry.
Good lord! I know your aunt probably didn’t realize it at the time, but he did her an enormous favor. Imagine being stuck with a jerk like that for the rest of your life.
I hope she’s doing well now.
It’s been a good week. First Stephen Hawking and now Angelina Jolie.
Stephen Hawking?? Off to Google . . .
…it breaks my heart.
Beautiful words said by a man who loves his lady.
exactly! and shame on the people who are critiquing it!
It’s great that she made the decision that was best for her. I don’t think I would have made the same choice. I would be to afraid of dying from the preventative surgery it sound brutal. I have only had one minor surgery and was terrified.
God how did they come up with 87% of chance?? I hope they didn’t scare her for nothing.
Wish her well.
I hope this doesn’t offend anyone, but the recent photos of her in mid treatment . . . well, she looks absolutely beautiful. Better than she’s looked in a while. Hopefully the losing some of the stress by having it almost over helps too.
Can I snark a bit?
If I see “preventative surgery” one more time I am going to throw a screaming tantrum. There is no such word as “preventative”. It’s PREVENTIVE surgery. Every time I see the word “preventative” it’s like I’m hearing fingernails scraping on a blackboard. Argh!!
Snark over.
Janet: THANK YOU! Angelina used it correctly in her op-ed, I noticed. Not that it’s about grammar and spelling, folks, don’t jump on me for that.
This stuff used to drive me crazy, but I’m over it. For better or for worse, usage changes.
http://grammarist.com/spelling/preventative-preventive/
I’ll admit to using preventative. (I see that link has the long-version more common outside the US, and I’m in Oz so that fits.)
How about we just go with prophylactic?
I’m down with prophylactic.
@Original G: Preventive come from the word prevention, as in an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Preventative comes from… what? An ounce of preventation is worth a pound of cure?
Excuse me while I snark some more, but this drives me up the wall along with using I as an object pronoun.
I like prophylactic. At least until somebody starts calling it prophylactical surgery.
Janet, Prophylactically speaking, do you think preventative measures really work?
I had to, just had to. 🙂
Consistency check:
Preventative or preventive? (I say “ative”.)
Exploitative or exploitive? (I say “ative”.)
Interpretative or interpretive? (I swing 50/50 on that one … depends on whether I’ve heard it said the UK-way or the US-way more recently.)
So I’m fairly consistent with “ative”. I think the shorter “ive” is US-standard in all 3 cases. Do the long-versions of the other two words also bug you? Or is it okay because exploitative and interpretative were the original forms? (Along with preventive, just to be confusing – bloody English.)
@Bluhare: You made me spit soda all over my monitor! ROFLMAO!
bluhare says:
May 14, 2013 at 3:00 pm
Janet, Prophylactically speaking, do you think preventative measures really work?
I had to, just had to.
————————————–
I was already laughing at Janet’s snark ramblings…and by the time I got to your post, I was laughing so hard I started drooling.
Thanks bluhare and Janet for giving me a good laugh today.
I love it when I make people drool! Usually it’s just the dog while I’m eating a cookie or something.
As a person who has a loved one fighting for their life because of cancer, may I just say…don’t sweat the small stuff.
Here it goes..I’m tearing up again. This story is so much inspiring and I’m so glad Brad supported her the way he did, such a great couple ad family.
All the best to them.
I know people are debating whether calling her a hero is necessary, but she is probably a big hero to Brad and her children. And I can only imagine the number of women who are going to go get checked up after this (I know I am. I’m young but I’m starting now.) Whether you think she’s a hero or not, what she did was very brave and brought light to a topic that not a lot of people know about. Kudos to her!
I always thought that their relationship went far deeper than just love, lust and attraction. But this proves it once and for all, there is something true and real there, something nothing can touch. I wish them all the best, always did. Honestly, before they got together, I never thopugh of Brad as a man of depth or substance, but my opinion changed ever since he and Ange got together. He really has grown a lot and everything this couple does flies in the face of all the critics. It’s not about looks and beauty, folks. These two prove it.
I have read many of Brad’s interviews and accounts of people that know him. This is the man he has always been. I’m happy that they have each other. Some men find it difficult to handle this. I have seen many men crumble and leave or just shut down. It is a difficult time for any couple. It either brings you together or breaks you.
I appreciate that they find strength in each other. That is special, and more rare then you may imagine.
Brad is no Olivier Martinez, that’s for sure…
As for her being a hero, he’s allowed to think that the mother of his children and the woman he loves is ‘heroic’. It’s a bit shocking that with the seriousness of the issue at hand, some are choosing to focus and debate his use of the word. So freaking what? That’s his lady, he thinks she walks on water and wouldn’t we all want our men (or women) to think that about us and support us 200% at a difficult time? Good grief.
Amen !
He isn’t Johnny Depp either.
This is a mature man with no middle life crisis to deal with. A man who adores the love of his life and only want her at his side to get old with her and raise their children and see their grand children together.
That’s the best loving compliment a man can offer his woman : to grow old together and never let her know how he loves her even when she will be all wrinkly, even if she gets bald, lose her breasts, her beauty, her youth, ect….
He deeply loves her for her soul, personality first and foremost.
We all get old and wrinkly (at least some of us who live long enough ), others get ill in the process, others get mutilated by an accident.
When you love someone, you stick together and cherish that person for his/her heart no matter her physicality…
@storyteller & Hypocricy:
+90000000000000000000000000
I was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer. I just finished chemo and radiation. I was tested for the genetic gene and it came back negative. My doctors told me I only needed a lumpectomy. Even though I tested negative, both my grandmothers and my aunt also had breast cancer. If the test came back positive, I would have done the same thing Angelina did. Even now I worry about it coming back in the future and wonder if I should have pursued a mastectomy.
Please try not to second guess yourself Suzi. Many, many women have lumpectomies and have no recurrences. And I hope you’re one of them.
Congrats on finishing up chemo, hope you’re doing well.
If you compare women who have total mastectomies and those who have lumpectomy followed by radiation, the survival rate and the risk of local recurrence is the same. Obviously, you should still get your mammograms and your breast exams from your physician, and do your monthly exams religiously. But there is no difference between the two therapies. Best of luck to you, I hope you are feeling better and healthy and enjoying your life.
Your fear is a common, and I think a normal one, after treatment. I also had a large lumpectomy, chemo radiation and now Tamoxifen for several years. I have not been tested for the gene mutation, for some reason it has never been offered to me. Either way, there’s almost never a day that I don’t worry about every ache, twinge or weird feeling. I sometimes second guess my surgery as my surgeon was all about saving my breast, despite my never pressing for that. I mean, I am glad I have it, but sometimes I feel like I’ve got a couple of ticking time bombs hanging out on my chest. It sucks.
I wish you well. Hope you get to take time to enjoy some R&R after that treatment run !
This made me tear up so badly. Cancer is truly a horrible word that really does bring feelings of hopelessness. Hearing stories like this is inspiring. The mutual support and love they have for each other, especially during a difficult thing like this, just makes me hope I find that someday too. Truly a classy and genuine couple.
I want to give my sympathy and my prayers to all my celebitchy ‘sisters’ in here who have to endure or have endured that desease.
I check myself regulary since i am 19, thanks to my father who is a medical physician and made sure his daughters were aware of cancer risk running in our family. My two grandmothers died from cancer but so far, their 12 (altogether) children and dozen of grand children didn’t have to deal with that illness yet.
I also want to use that thead to talk about breast cancer that touches men too. So many men are unaware that they too can get breast cancer and usually when they get it, its too late….My sister who is a cytologist deals with cancer related tissues she analyzed…body parts among which male chest, intimate parts full of cancerous cells…
So if there are males in here, they should be aware that this illness can affect them too and check themselves.
So many heartfelt messages. Angelina has touched so many people, including me. So much respect for her and the millions out there who are fighting cancer. Keep on spreading love and doing the wonderful things you’ve done for others.
I generally find Pitt to be a bit insufferable, but I thought this was lovely. What I really admired was that he puts the full weight of the choice on Angelina and then lauds her for it. This isn’t about him in any way, shape or form. He makes it very clear that this was *her* decision and to me that reads as absolute respect for her. Nice job.
This!
WOW ,SO TOUCHING… WOMEN OF THE YEAR!!
THE AGES…
Man. So much sanctimony about whether or not this was heroic. That is in the eyes of the beholder. Short of that, a dictionary helps. Courtesy of the OED (Oxford English Dictionary):
Heroine
noun
A woman admired for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities
mich, I didn’t see sanctimony just a difference of opinion of what a hero(ine) is. And based on the OED definition I’d say in this post she’s a heroine. (Which means I just changed my opinion; a hard thing for me to do!)
I think I’m just really surprised by some of the reactions to this story. Because not all women can have this procedure she should be faulted for having it? She is somehow to blame for the fact that the US health care system is ridiculously expensive (a CT scan costs an average of five times more in the States than in Canada)? She should have waited until she actually developed cancer? The martyr card is being played? The father of her children is wrong to find her heroic? She can only be considered ‘heroic’ if she pays for the rest of the world to have this procedure (which would actually be altruism more than heroism, but whatever)?
She made a frightening, radical decision based on the best medical advice available to her. She opened her personal life up and made the issue of women’s health a topic of global conversation. She has just become a high profile advocate for women’s health and I can’t understand some of the negative reactions – particularly from women.
mich, I’m wth you. She should not be faulted for doing something she has the ability to do. And we don’t know that it wasn’t covered by insurance either, even though they have the wherewithal to pay for it themselves.
If I were in her shoes I’d have done exactly the same thing. Except I’d have probably whined more about it. 🙂
Mich: Excellent comment, completely agree with you.
Re this thread: Lovely statement by Brad. I am glad that AJ has a great partner to help her through it all.
At first I was really impressed by this news, and her courage to come out with her story. It is indeed bold to go so far as have a preventive mastectomy. But how exactly is her choice going to affect the average woman? To have such a surgery, you must have insurance, which is by no means universal. Then, your insurance has to cover what is probably considered an elective procedure. This is unlikely. So basically such a life-saving procedure is primarily reserved for those who are wealthy, like Angelina Jolie. Such a surgery is by no means available to all. Therefore I do not see how her action is “heroic.” Heroic would be to donate money to women who desperately want this procedure but could never afford it. Sorry.
And knowing the Jolie-Pitt’s generosity, I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t do exactly that. They may have already.
Not going to knock her. Nope, not today
What you say about access and cost is true. But what exactly is she supposed to do about it? I think folks should be on the phone, e-mail and whatever else to the insurance companies, the government who are the people who are at fault for this.
I will not fault a person for using what they have to save their lives. She is not the villain here, the folks who control healthcare are.
^^This, in spades.
Exactly.
Jolie used her resources to get treatment and her platform as a celebrity to bring attention to this disease.
So now all she has to do is to fund national health care or change the system entirely to be a hero in the eyes of her husband and children?
I’m not following this at all.
Not to mention that she specifically calls the US out for being so prohibitively expensive. I don’t think the majority of Americans fully understand just how much more they are paying for healthcare.
When Lainey covered this, she went into detail about her own experiences with the National Health System in Canada which is much more pro-health than the pro-money private system in the US.
Problem is, everyone controls health care. Insurance companies do with the contracts and protocols. Providers do with their billing codes and treatment protocols. Pharmaceutical companies do by exorbitantly pricing new drugs, government does by reducing Medicare payments thereby pushing some of the load onto the private sector and taking huge campaign donations from huge players in the healthcare game. And Medicare is the largest payer of medical costs in the US. And then there’s us, who eat and drink ourselves to death and think we should get the best of treatment while doing so.
Countries with universal health care are feeling the financial push. There IS no solution as we are getting older and require more treatment, which is now available due to technology.
I have no idea what we can do except set a reasonable standard of care that everyone should have access to. Other than that I’m stumped with everyone else.
Yep, Bluhare. It’s a highly complex situation, particularly here in the U.S., with our large, diverse population and haphazard health care coverage (and haphazard care, as well).
It’s not something Jolie was going to be able to address in one NYT Op-Ed article, and it wasn’t the thrust of her piece, anyway.
It’s fine if some people don’t consider her actions heroic. But what puzzles me are the comments that she should do something more, or better, or more inclusive.
Suze: Yup. Angelina needs to take care of Angelina. End of. Anything else is gravy.
I totally hear what you guys are saying. I am not out to “knock” Angelina. She and Pitt are very selfless and have done a great deal for people, and I’m not suggesting that she needs to take on the mantle of health insurance for all, or pay for those who need care, etc. She is taking care of herself in a gutsy way, yes. But are her actions “heroic”? That is what I was taking issue with. There are people taking issue with this sort of characterization and such people are not simply haters. To ask how privilege enters in to such decisions is not the same thing as drinking haterade.
“Heroic” is the word Brad used for his partner. If anyone knows what she’s been through, it would be him.
I remember all the gossip about how thin she was. This pretty much explains it.
What an extraordinarily stressful experience this must have been, as you ladies above who have had breast CA know. I wish all of you the best.
I hope both of them are given the time and space (snowball’s chance in hell, sadly) to heal emotionally after this. There will also be the family-I am sure the older kids will have lots of questions. They will worry, although hopefully they will understand that heir mom is safer now.
Oh, I can only imagine how complicated her feelings must have been this past Sunday. It is obvious she loved her mother very much.
I have always admired Angelina for her devotion to her UNHCR work and to her family. Now I admire her even more.
I feel bad for any young woman who has to go through a surgical procedure to remove “healthy” young body parts. That poor woman.
To me, this has nothing to do with Brad, her mother or even her children. It is her bump in the road. Her “cross to bear” as my sweet Irish aunt would say. She wants to live to see her children grown, as we ALL hope to do.
Of course they will be given the “time and space” to heal, if THEY choose. Who in the world could possibly interfere with their home life?
I love their entire family; they are hands-on parents raising their kids to be good world citizens. And I always am a sucker for a good love story, and they have all the makings of true love. Angelina is just so beautiful…I can’t believe Goop got most beautiful person…should’ve been Angie, IMO.
In the words of Batman via The Dark Knight Rises: A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy’s shoulders, to let him know the world hadn’t ended.
Stop trying to define and label what is considered heroic and what isn’t.
It’s amazing how people can make something so sweet into something so negative….
p.s. angelina has such a beautiful face.
Nice that Angie has gotten so much love and support not only from Brad but also from his family. Jane Pitt put out a very nice statement today.
It’s no surprise that Brad would define this decision as heroic, not just for Angie, but for any woman. He also said the same thing about her when she had to have a cesarean section, plus when asked on the red carpet for Megamind “who is the hero of your life” he replied, “the mommy of my children.” Brad loves Angelina with all his heart.
Congratulations Angelina on a tough, but brave decision.
Never an easy decision for any woman to remove their breasts preemptively. Not surprised Brad and his family supported her.Think these two are the real deal.
THANK YOU to those who have taken the time to CORRECT the misinformation about health care requirements and insurance company requirements regarding this matter.
I love the internet, love reading the comments. But it always concerns me when I see the amount of misinformation that gets posted as fact. And not usually maliciously, just that the poster is badly misinformed.
Again, thanks for posting current, correct information.
Deeana
There is a single lab in Utah, Myriad Genetics, which holds the US patent for BRCA1 & BRCA2 gene testing. All samples are sent there, from everywhere in the US.
Expensive? Yes, but some HMOs, PPOs and insurance companies do pay for genetic testing. Mine did. I have had breast cancer twice. 20 years apart. Axillary dissection, lumpectomy, radiation, double mastectomy, chemotherapy, chest wall expanders, reconstructive implants. All painful & uncomfortable surgeries, even without radiation or chemo for cancer.
I’m no longer afraid of dying but I do want as much time with my family as I can have. I completely understand her stated reasons.
Kudos to AJ for bringing awareness to any others who may benefit from her example by speaking about a very private experience. She gets even more credit from me because she continued her activities and waited until surgeries were completed to make her announcement. She clearly wasn’t seeking either approval or sympathy, just shedding light for others who might not have known this course is even an option.
Yeah, I knew the positive comments from this morning couldn’t last long. One day. Amazing.
Brad & Angie seem like they genuinely love each other.