This is one definite area where consensus reality and my beliefs conflict.
Angelina Jolie carries the breast cancer gene. Her mother died of the disease in her late fifties. So Angelina elected to have a double mastectomy at the age of 37 so she could reduce the chance that she would contract the disease.
Some years back, my agent, Al Zuckerman, asked if I would be interested in writing a book about four women in the Boca Raton, Florida area who had elected to double mastectomies because they carried this gene. I had profound reservations. But I called one of the women and we had an interesting conversation. In the end, I told Al I couldn’t be a part of this project because I didn’t believe in bottom line: you carry the gene, therefore you will get this disease.
While it’s likely that, in consensus reality, you are more prone to breast cancer if you have this particular gene, it isn’t a foregone conclusion that you will contract breast cancer. Al counteracted with statistics – big statistics, overwhelming statistics – but I knew this project wasn’t for me.
A few years later, Rob and I were having dinner with friends when the woman suddenly announced she was going to have a double mastectomy. “I’ve had so much of my breasts removed in the past few years that I’ve decided to just get it over with.”
I was frankly so shocked that I didn’t know what to say. I finally muttered a weak, “But why? “
“Because I feel like I’m waiting for breast cancer to hit me.”
If that was her belief, I said, then she should have the surgery. And she did. Her breasts were lopped off, like Jolie’s.
So here’s my question. My parents died from complications of neurological diseases – my mother from Alzheimer’s and my dad from Parkinson’s. When should I schedule my brain surgery so I won’t contract either of these diseases?
i agree with mike…in terms of the right thing for her – it’s such an individualized thing – i think we each have to do in a particular circumstance that thing or things that make it possible for us to go forward in the most positive/beneficial way and that thing or things may not be the same for everyone – either way, dealing with such health issues is not easy regardless –
oh, i saw the film salt some time ago – worth seeing –
It’s up to the individual. As with many things in life we have choices and our lives are determined by these. I therefore don’t have an opinion about the double mastectomy. Angelina Jolie must have done what she considered right for her – therefore it was a right decision.
Good point, Mike.
I really don’t have an opinion about Angie’s double M choice, but she does have to calmly reveal these actions and her reasons as nothing she does is allowed to be private.
Regarding your brain surgery, I’d recommend avoiding it. The brain is way more important to a writer than boobs.
Funny – and true, Terri!
On the subject of salt and health I saw these little salt computer lamps which I have not heard of before –
https://mycitygarden.com.au/category/salt-lamps/
“Himilayian salt lamps look lovely. Purify indoor air with nature’s negative ionizer. Every Salt Lamp is an individual work-of-art and unique in its own style, color, design, shape and size. They neutralize positively charged contaminants such as allergy and asthma triggers, mold and mildew, pet odours, etc. through the natural release of negative ions into the air, makes a wonderful therapeutic addition to any room including nurseries, smoking areas, next to computers, nursing homes, spa and yoga spaces and hospital rooms. Makes a very soothing nightlight & never needs a filter change. ”
I’ll get one as soon as I get some spare change.I think one would look good next to the computer.
My mother died at age 27 from breast cancer. I have no intention of having my breasts removed just in case I get it, however. I could get hit by a bus next week, but I still cross the street. I know I will eventually die of something, but I refuse to give breast cancer any of my energy now. From the nasty cough I received from a cold I caught last week, I have a feeling my demise will have more to do with lungs than breasts.
Wow, 27?! You must have been very young, Nancy. I agree with you completely – about NOT giving cancer any energy.
I don’t know what to say about that specific example, but: “Here we must not fall into the absurd trap of being against everything Hitler was for…. Because of Hitler’s use of the term Master Race, we should not feel the need to say that we never want to use genetics to make humans more capable than they are today.” – James Watson
https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/article.php?id=3725 – Still Unnoticed: James Watson’s Eugenic Enthusiasms
https://www.alternet.org/story/16026/james_watson_wants_to_build_a_better_human – James Watson Wants to Build a Better Human
Thanks for the link, alexsandar. Will check them out. Good to see you.
It’s interesting that Jolie had her breasts reconstructed and could have said nothing at all, but she didn’t have her ovaries removed (she still has a 50% statistical chance of getting ovarian cancer) because you can’t just replace them with synthetics and look normal. She would age very quickly. I know because my sister had breast cancer and had a complete hysterectomy afterwards. I really wonder exactly why Jolie “came out” with this when insurance companies won’t cover it for most women.
Good points, DJan.
Not everybody trusts to POSITIVE THINKING!!!111!!!! to ward off a disease, especially when you’re told that your chances of NOT getting it are very low. Not everyone is all that good at POSITIVE THINKING!!!!1111!!! in the first place–god knows I’m not. I’d rather not live with the axe always hanging over my head, waiting and wondering when it’s going to strike. Isn’t that better for Angelina’s peace of mind to not have to live in cancer limbo?
I’d get brain surgery if I could bypass getting Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s, which have taken out most of my relatives. I’ll probably end up offing myself when I get one before it gets *too* bad.
I think it probably isn’t as simple as positive thinking. I think it has more to do with beliefs. Statiscally, Angelina’s surgery improved her chances by 80%.
Life can deal us some tricky cards and we all play them in different ways.
Life is a gamble and the house always wins in the end,it’s just a matter of minimizing our losses as best we can.
Two suicides on the weekend brought that home to me even thought I didn’t know the men involved on a personal level,I did know friends and family members that were effected.One was a 77 year-old man who was dying of cancer and was beginning to lose the ability to walk.He gassed himself.
And the other was my cousin’s husband,my age roughly,healthy physically,but just worn out with life.
I think most of us think long and hard about our next move,but sometimes the cards are just not worth playing…or so we think.
I guess in the poker analogy above,Angie threw in her risky pair because she didn’t like the odds against her.-)
If only there was such a thing as a sure bet,life would be an easier game to play for sure.
P.S.
Richard Martini worked with Angie on the movie ‘Salt’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ40WlshNwU
A sure bet would be great! Suicides place things into perspective…
OK, salt is now on my lit.
I’m pretty sure Richard said he is in a scene in ‘Salt’ where he is the chauffeur driving Angie’s character out of North Korea when she is released from that country.
I’ll have to rent it again,or maybe buy a copy,it’s a good film and I hear that ‘Salt 2’ is in production now.
We’ll put salt on the netflix list. A salt 2 with Jolie?
All of the scenes near water and in woods in the movie Salt, were filmed off of our beach and literally in the Park in our backyard! The helicopters and lights kept us up for days!
It’s a good movie and I’m not a Jolie fan.
I saw the trailer and it looks terrific! Filmed near your house….I love it.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1958011/
Angie is on board and the writers are signed,but there is no clear mention of a director as yet.
It will be interesting to see if Rich Martini gets involved in this movie as well.
If Martini is involved, I wonder how his metaphysical journey will impact his directing?
He wasn’t the director of ‘Salt’,he was only the assistant to the director Phillip Noyce (an Aussie).
But still,he was involved in the movie and was in that North Korea scene with Angie.
In fact,it was a sync with Angie that put me in contact with Rich –
https://brizdazz.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/flipside-of-vanity.html
And he told me;
” That’s funny. I got a chance to know Angelina while working on the film “Salt.”Contrary to popular media, she’s about the least vain person I’ve met. A great sense of humor. The odd thing about the “destroy vanity” quote was one morning I awoke to hear someone speaking to me in Latin;
“vanum populatum.” I don’t speak Latin, but it means annihilate vanity.
I thought “I live in LA, where do I start?… “
I’m nearly done with the book. It’s fascinating.
This is something I’ve also been torn about. I think that you never know what you’d do until you are faced with the situation.
I’ve read that even having the surgeries does not guarantee you still won’t get cancer.
Maybe by getting the surgery they don’t focus and thus manifest the disease.
It is hard to believe that in this day and age this is what women have to do or feel that have to do. Are we going backwards?