Angelina Jolie- a corporate P.R. campaign

Stormynyte

Has any one else seen this?! I don't even know what to think..

http://www.naturalnews.com/040365_Angelina_Jolie_gene_patents_Supreme_Court_decision.html

From the article..
"Angelina Jolie's announcement and all its carefully-crafted language had four notable immediate impacts:

1) It caused women everywhere to be terrified of breast cancer through the publishing of false statistics that drove fear into the hearts of anyone with breasts. (See below for explanation.)

2) It caused women to rush out and seek BRCA1 gene testing procedures. These tests just happen to be patented by a for-profit corporation called "Myriad Genetics." Because of this patent, BRCA1 tests can cost $3,000 - $4,000 each. The testing alone is a multi-billion-dollar market, but only if the patent is upheld in an upcoming Supreme Court decision (see below).

3) It caused the stock price of Myriad Genetics (MYGN) to skyrocket to a 52-week high. "Myriad's stock closed up 3% Tuesday, following the publication of the New York Times op-ed," wrote Marketwatch.com.

4) It drove public opinion to influence the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision to rule in favor of corporate ownership of human genes (see more below).

Women all over the world are being duped into supporting Angeline Jolie, having no idea that what she's really doing is selling out women to the for-profit cancer industry. But to fully understand what's happening, you have to dig deeper..."

 

exbrnxgrl

I don't consider natural news a credible source and I think even less of Mike Adams. I'm sure both have their fans but I'm not one of them.

Lily55

There are some valid points though....

CelineFlower

The only valid points i can see are that we always get "played" by big corp...one way or the other.

I have a hard time believing AJ would support this... unless it had some connection to helping her own charities.

" if i knew at 25 that at 45 id have BC, i would have cut them off too " 

She is not the first to do this, publicaly but yes she has a big impact on how people think. 

This is should not be a taboo subject...im glad its making families talk about it..

1 in 9 women in canada will be dx with bc...

1 IN 9!!!!!

We better start using that fear, to talk.... 

CelineFlower

from the article...

What this proves is that Angelina's Jolie's announcement was a well-planned corporate P.R. campaign with carefully-crafted messages designed to influence public opinion. But what could Jolie be seeking to influence?

I disagree... it might make me ask questions, but it doesnt prove anything.

I believe i read somewhere her surgery was three months ago...

Lily55

I don´t think AJ did this herself but the impact and effect on share prices etc is an issue, I also think drug companies and big pharma have a lot to answer for in terms of why less toxic treatments are not available.......they are campaigining behind the scenes to stop natural substances that help against cancer being allowed in Europe.......once you start researching genuine research (I now nothing about natural news) it is shocking

CelineFlower

you are correct... it is shocking

ive been part of the alt media community for a few years.... and it is incredible what you find when you look.

Natural news is like most sites online, filled with holes. But if you do a little reasearch you can find some gems there

This is big buisiness.. there is no getting away from that fact.

Stormynyte

Ah, I'd never heard of Natural News til last night. There are some good points, but I agree, I don't think AJ would plan out or agree to front some scheme like this. Did I really just post a link to some conspiracy nut's ramblings? Well crap. This is what happens when I stay up all night reading stuff on the net.

AnacortesGirl

I hate to say it but I think you did get duped. This guy definitely cherry picks and convolutes his conclusions.



How he could possibly claim this as a boost for Myriad is beyond me. It should do the opposite. There are many labs who do genetic testing for a very, very low cost (compared to Myriad) but they can't touch the BRCA genes because of the patent. When the Supreme Court strikes it down (which I sincerely hope happens) then the cost of getting tested is going to be very affordable - a few hundred instead of a few thousands.



And his attempt to debunk the 87% stat just threw me. Where he got the idea that these numbers are just based on "families with histories" is beyond me. That the stat is a generalized number is a true statement. Because the type of mutation and where it falls on the gene influences the number up or down. For instance, as a general statement the risk of ovarian cancer is much higher for BRCA1 ladies. But there is a area on the BRCA2 gene (too lazy to find the study and look up the exact detail of where it falls on the gene) that mutations in this area will generate an ovarian risk equal to the risk of BRCA1 women. Lots of studies on the risks for the mutations but since there are so many possibilities and the ability to work in this area is restricted by Myriad patent, more questions than answers.



I don't know his motivation since I know nothing about him. All I could figure out is that he wants to try to get his name known by his outrageous claims that most people are willing to believe because researching the facts is too much work.

pupmom

Debbie Wasserman Shultz found out she had the gene and then got a double mastectomy. She also had bc. Anyway, that was all over the news at the time also. When public figures do very dramatic things, they get news coverage.

CelineFlower

good point...

is it a good thing? how would we handle being in the limelight and coping?

exbrnxgrl

Mike Adams also believes that the HIV virus is a myth. It is very hard to feel that there are some good points to his theories when most of it is so questionable. It becomes downright bizarre after a while, if you spend some time reading natural news. Really, really not my cup of tea.

Kayrem

I actually feel sorry for AJ. I feel it is a luxury to be able to keep things quiet and not have my motives scrutinized. She could have kept quiet about it but it may have leaked out at some point and at least she controlled the release of her information. She instead used it as an opportunity to educate people and encourage them to get tested.



I was one of those people who they did not feel it was necessary to test. I fought for it and 13 months later found out I was BRCA1. I had a lumpectomy when i was diagnosed as they would not hear of giving me a mastectomy. Since then I have had a double mastectomy and tomorrow I will have a hysterectomy.



I bought the People magazine a few days ago to give to my 7 year old daughter if necessary at a later date. I want her to see that she has options and that she is not

alone (in the event that it is an issue for her and I pray just about every day that it isn't).

hadle

I have to agree. Too much of a coincidence AJ would announce this same day supreme court was expected to rule. My impression is that big time stars like AJ don't get out of bed for less than $1m so no surprise on timing of these two events.

Jaybird627

I think that coincidence is just that - coincidence. Life is planned and life is random. I don't think that any celebrity can wake up in the morning and all of a sudden decide to get the entire media over and there to report on anything they have to say - that quickly. But perhaps I am wrong???

I am sorry that AJ had to make the decision (or that any of us had to or may have to) that she did, felt she had to,  about a bilat prophy mx. Being BRCA2+ myself it's a personal decision to release ANY information to anyone and I respect her and all others for whatever they do or don't do conceerning their own lives and situations.

I don't think this was made public by her with any intention other than for information. (jmo) It's been stated by her that she was devastated by her mother's death. Her aunt's cancer was (obviously?) known for some time. By her/her family at the very least. As an intelligent (IMO) woman I think that AJ gave this some serious thought, planned her surgeries and it just all coincided with the BRCA gene pattent case.

PR is PR. Spin is spin. Everyone has an agenda.

I came here today specifically to see if this would be discussed. I think there will be opinions on both sides.

AnacortesGirl

So on the day that the Supreme Court did rule (yesterday, 6/13) there was no additional press release from AJ. Yep. Just coincidence.



That you, Supreme Court, for striking it down!

leggo

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