Angelina Jolie's prophylactic surgery

Sad to see such a jaded and bitter view of the situation. No idolization, but admiration for a woman who faced the same decision that many women on this board have. Trying to come up with a pecking order for suffering is patently absurd.

Caryn

Caryn were you referring to my post as being jaded? Where in my words am I jaded? Or was it just in the timing of posting?

mastectomy is never ever a "boob job"  - boob jobs add an implant to existing tissue, it does not cut, stretch, comprimise your pec muscles like adding an implant after mastectomy.  No feeling, distortion when doing anything - people with boob jobs dont have these issues, it is absolutely not the same.   Yes, visually because she kept her nipples and probably has a small IMF scar,  she will look pretty normal but it certainly is not the same as augmentation. 

LAStar, 

Can I walk in her Louboutins instead?  I've always loved the red soles.

Seriously though, I am very happy to not have to walk in her shoes, both from the standpoint of being BRCA1 positive and from the standpoint of having to deal publicly with something so personal.  She may be privileged but that doesn't mean that any of this has been easy for her.   

LOVED THE ARTICLE.  When I had my PBMX (negative fro BRCA) many people thought I was crazy.  But it has been the best decision for me, I was tired of living with the constant worry, and didn't want to take Tamoxifen - and my risk of getting bc was 40%.  Each person has to do what is right for them!

Just got done reviewing most of the Pink Lotus site. AJ and Pink Lotus have been preparing the site likely from day 1. It's very well done. AJ HAS started her advocacy and it didn't start two days ago

Ditto Selena, sassy

It must have been a very thoughtful process from decision to the op-Ed piece earlier this week. So often the media takes a celebrity story and runs with it, spinning it, cutting out details here and there, scaring people and throwing little factoids around that can have devastating effects on the person and our society in general.

By getting in front of the release of information, AJ not only took control of her situation again but also the public perception of it. It wasnt leaked or twisted, it was just the facts as they occurred to her.

Some people may not agree with her rationale, her surgery, her words used in the piece, the fact that she can afford whatever care she needs or wants, had recon and didn't reveal the horrors of what can possibly happen because they didn't happen to her, whatever. You can't please everyone all the time. Its impossible. There will always be criticisms, opinions, and discussion of celebrity health news.

The fact that she could get in front of a diagnosis and possibly avoid one, that probably pisses off a lot of people who didn't or couldn't, and didn't have risk factors other than having boobs.

Life isn't fair. Cancer sucks. Pink ribbons suck too because they have been bastardized and now give so many people the wrong impression.

It's good she has been able to ignite a fire in people who are passionate and start some discussion for others who need to be more informed. You have to admit, the piece has people talking, asking questions and encourages us to be better self-health advocates.

TFlemo--???what about the law, how do they get around it. An insurance company not following the law isn't AJ's fault. TF, not trying to be contentious, but my insurance company paid for my recon b/c it was a legal requirement, don't get the why not of what your saying.

Beacon, good catch, didn't even look at that. I agree, I don't get the negative,she has worked extremely hard. How she keeps it all together is amazing. Of course in saying that someone will find fault. She's a hands on Mom, works in show buziness, takes Envoy trips for UN. AND changes the world view of BC.

Smart girl. Had I known then what I know now, I would have gotten rid of my breasts in a heartbeat knowing they were going to kill me. I would have begged or borrowed. However, having been diagnosed at 30, I hadn't had a chance to give it much thought at the time....you still feel invincible in your twenties. It's certainly not her responsibility to become a breast cancer advocate. She's just a woman who loves her family and her life and wants to hang on to it as long as possible.

No I am not arguing in circles, it is all about the words issued by her or in her name.......mis-leading or incomplete info on so many levels and she has said nothing about BC treatment, other than in reference to her Mum, but nothing is very different these days to then.....

I have nothing against her personally, its not a vendetta, I just believe that anyone in the public eye has a huge responsibility to share information wisely and if they do not know then to get their staff to research it properly as their words have power and impact way beyond our own.........

I believe her words were wonderful, she's created world wide discussion. That happened because she is known in the world. People outside the USA care about her. Expecting her to "tell it all" in one page. At that moment in time, she told her story.  She wasn't writing a book. Her words were carefully chosen. HER WORDS. Others may have chosen different words. Oh well..........

She shared with the world what many won't even talk about. The expectation that she take on all the preceived wrongs. Why? She's a newbie with allot on her plate.

She is not a newbie she supported her mum for ten years........you and i will never agree on this SS

I agree, Lily, so, I thinks it best to go. There's only so many ways to say the same thing. 

AJ if you ever read this--Go Girl, keep on changing the world, few have ever done what you have done. Enjoy the kids, they'll be grown in the blink of an eye.

Signing out, sassy