Recently Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy because of results from a geneti
ID: 166807 • Letter: R
Question
Recently Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy because of results from a genetic test. Describe the science of the test and the reason for her decision. Do you agree with her choice, and do you agree with her decision to go public about her choice? Recently Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy because of results from a genetic test. Describe the science of the test and the reason for her decision. Do you agree with her choice, and do you agree with her decision to go public about her choice? Recently Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy because of results from a genetic test. Describe the science of the test and the reason for her decision. Do you agree with her choice, and do you agree with her decision to go public about her choice?Explanation / Answer
Answer:
Angelina Jolie had to get double mastectomy done based on the result of genetic test of BRCA1 (breast cancer 1) gene. BRCA1 gene encodes protein that works as a tumor suppressor and is involved in the repair of double strand breaks in DNA. A mutation in BRCA1 gene increases the risk of getting breast cancer which in some occasions can be inherited and thus run in families.
Angelina Jolie had lost her mother, grand mother and aunt to Cancer and a diagnostic test revealed that she was carrying a defective copy of the BRCA1 gene and was therefore at very high risk of getting both breast cancer and Ovarian Cancer. The chance of a female carrying a BRCA1 defective gene and developing cancer (breast, ovarian and prostrate) is very high. Based on the doctor's assessment, Angelina Jolie had 87% chance of getting breast cancer and 50% risk of getting ovarian cancer. After double Mastectomy her risk to develop breast cancer reduced to 5%.
Her decision to go public about her choice is commendable and sets an example for other Women. This creates awareness among the general public about the benefits of preventive surgery, educates other about the prevalence of common cancer types amongst women, provides information on available diagnostic techniques to identify any associated risk because of a genetic mutation before its too late and also suggests medical interventions to mitigate the risk.
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