Surprised there's not a thread about this
One of my closest friends went down this route.....she wanted to give herself the best possible chance to ensure that she was alive for her girls, sadly she died long before they were in their teens
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I'm not a fan of Angelina Jolie, but I applaud her for speaking out about this.
Apparently, she had a very high chance of getting breast cancer, and having lost her own mum (in her fifties) to breast cancer, she made the decision to have the double mastectomy. Tests also showed that she is at risk of ovarian cancer, and the removal of her ovaries is something she may consider in the future.
Preventative surgery can be seen as the best option for some women and not a decision that anyone takes lightly.
I am so sorry the surgery wasn't able to save your friend, Supes.
Originally Posted by Supes:
Surprised there's not a thread about this
One of my closest friends went down this route.....she wanted to give herself the best possible chance to ensure that she was alive for her girls, sadly she died long before they were in their teens
That's sad - what did she die of? Was it commected to the BRCA1 gene or something else entirely.
I'll be honest - if I thought I had an 87% chance of developing breast cancer I really don't think I'd hesitate in doing everything I could to prevent it happening.My breasts don't define me - I have no doubt that it is a really big decision to make though - not an easy one for some people.
I admire her honesty in sharing it publicly though.The world she moves and is employed in can be very shallow. Then again - a lot of actresses have breast enhancement surgery anyway.
TBH - I'm very thankful I don't have to make that choice. Both my parents had bowel cancer (my Dad died age 58 from it) - I'm quite 'high risk' of developing it myself but do have routine colonoscopies to lessen the risk.
We do live in a wonderful age whereby we at least have the knowledge and opportunities to try and attempt prevention. There's still a long way to go with regards to 'cures' etc but ...........I'm rambling.
Well done Angelina anyway - I always thought of her as a bot of a 'cold fish' - I have warmed to her a little because of this.
I have a close friend that was diagnosed with Breast cancer in recent years. .she had a mastectomy and reconstruction.. the new boob is built from fat from elsewhere in the body and they even build a nipple then tattoo it to make it the right colour. the boob is just like what she had before but with no breast material. . she is really pleased with the results and that was a NHS rebuild . . they work wonders nowadays.. so someone with a shed load of money will get two perfect looking boobs too.. friend is clear now as well which is great news.. 
I was watching loose women yesterday and Carole McGiffin said she wouldn't go the double mastectomy route if she was found to ahve that gene she'd just have more mammograms more often. . but I have since found out via my mate that they aren't always that great as my friend had a further tumour that was found during the mastectomy but didn't show in the mammogram and that one was one of the ones that can grow into the all invasive incurable type if left. . the other two were the less invasive type thankfully.. So if you are in danger of getting breast cancer it is better to go the double mastectomy route cos if a lump is found much later it could be one of the types that if not caught early enough will spread around the body..
So, way to go Angelina for taking a brave decision.. 
I applaud her for bringing it to the attention of the public.
We in the UK have a far better chance of being offered this test than they do in the States but I still find doctors are too complacent about sending women for a test, especially if they are younger. It should in my opinion, be offered to all women who have had a 1st generation relative (mum or sister) had breast cancer/ovarian cancer and doubly so if their relative died of it. If there are also cases of 2nd generation relatives (grandmother or aunt) then it should also be considered 
Pengy I've had to go to my doctor's 4 times in 6 months with severe breast pain and an abundance of lumps which are sometimes visible and although the doctor has told me that sore lumps are nothing to worry about in regards to cancer she did refer me to the breast clinic but has told me in advance they aren't too concerned about mammograms for younger women so might not even screen me. The fact that she thinks I need screened because, apparently, I have some of the lumpiest boobs she has ever felt should be enough for them to screen me but she said not to count on it. What else would they do at a breast clinic if they don't screen me? 
Originally Posted by Ells:
Pengy I've had to go to my doctor's 4 times in 6 months with severe breast pain and an abundance of lumps which are sometimes visible and although the doctor has told me that sore lumps are nothing to worry about in regards to cancer she did refer me to the breast clinic but has told me in advance they aren't too concerned about mammograms for younger women so might not even screen me. The fact that she thinks I need screened because, apparently, I have some of the lumpiest boobs she has ever felt should be enough for them to screen me but she said not to count on it. What else would they do at a breast clinic if they don't screen me?
when my mother died of breast cancer I asked for a test and was denied - I was 30 and told that it was unlikely BC would ever occur in one so young. 3 years later my cousin died of it within months of being diagnosed and again I asked to be tested for the gene - again I was dismissed as a silly woman who was wasting their time. Within 6 months I'd had the diagnosis I dreaded and a mastectomy
By being offered the choice and with counselling you can make an informed decision about what to do. If I had my time again, I'd have done exactly what Angelina did although in my case having a mastectomy didn't stop me getting cancer again, as the breast tissue they leave behind leaves you at risk of it coming back and mine did three times!
I don't know what to say to you Ells - as a mother you won't just be thinking of yourself, your children and how anything could affect them will be uppermost in your mind. Women are lumpy it's a fact of life but what can seem to be a harmless lump could be something more sinister in disguise. No one tumour is the same as any other. Admittedly until you've gone through the menopause, mammograms aren't much use at detecting lumps which is why they don't tend to offer them to women under 50 but I wish they wouldn't dismiss real fears quite to quickly. I would keep on at your GP to have a proper screening if only to put your mind at ease
Pengy I hope you're doing well now. Such a shame they didn't take your concerns seriously. I don't understand why they can't fund screening for younger women with family history of breast cancer. Cut the DLA handouts to alcoholics and pour the money into somewhere it is needed.
And before anyone shoots me down for saying that, I know first hand how bad alcoholism is and it is disgusting that alcoholics are given hundreds of extra ÂĢs a months to drink themselves to death when the money is needed elsewhere. But that's another thread.
Thanks Pengy, I am not too worried as it seems more to do with my cycle but I worry about other younger people who are fobbed off too and their's could be more serious.
I'm not a huge fan of Jolie, but I applaud her bravery for speaking out.
Originally Posted by Senora Reyes:
I'm not a huge fan of Jolie, but I applaud her bravery for speaking out.
I agree.
Nice to see you SR 
Originally Posted by Pengy:
Originally Posted by Ells:
Pengy I've had to go to my doctor's 4 times in 6 months with severe breast pain and an abundance of lumps which are sometimes visible and although the doctor has told me that sore lumps are nothing to worry about in regards to cancer she did refer me to the breast clinic but has told me in advance they aren't too concerned about mammograms for younger women so might not even screen me. The fact that she thinks I need screened because, apparently, I have some of the lumpiest boobs she has ever felt should be enough for them to screen me but she said not to count on it. What else would they do at a breast clinic if they don't screen me?
when my mother died of breast cancer I asked for a test and was denied - I was 30 and told that it was unlikely BC would ever occur in one so young. 3 years later my cousin died of it within months of being diagnosed and again I asked to be tested for the gene - again I was dismissed as a silly woman who was wasting their time. Within 6 months I'd had the diagnosis I dreaded and a mastectomy
By being offered the choice and with counselling you can make an informed decision about what to do. If I had my time again, I'd have done exactly what Angelina did although in my case having a mastectomy didn't stop me getting cancer again, as the breast tissue they leave behind leaves you at risk of it coming back and mine did three times!
I don't know what to say to you Ells - as a mother you won't just be thinking of yourself, your children and how anything could affect them will be uppermost in your mind. Women are lumpy it's a fact of life but what can seem to be a harmless lump could be something more sinister in disguise. No one tumour is the same as any other. Admittedly until you've gone through the menopause, mammograms aren't much use at detecting lumps which is why they don't tend to offer them to women under 50 but I wish they wouldn't dismiss real fears quite to quickly. I would keep on at your GP to have a proper screening if only to put your mind at ease
Sorry that happened to you Pengy - how awful that you were dismissed. Dreadful. So sorry to hear that yours came back three times. Wow you must be such a fighter.
[My mum had a double mastectomy].