In a recent interview to promote her new film, Maleficent, the 38-year-old star told the Associated Press she is “very happy that other women now know that they have that choice”.
The mother of six revealed in The New York Times last May that she had an 87 per cent risk of breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer.
“The decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made,” Angelina wrote.
Since her op-ed was published, doctors around the world have witnessed a rise in women undergoing genetic testing – dubbing it the ‘Angelina Effect’.
Speaking with George Stephanopoulos in an interview on Good Morning America, Angelina said she wasn’t sure how people would react to her decision.
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“I didn’t expect there to be so much support,” she said. “It’s connected me so much to other families, other women.”
Founder of Pink Hope, Krystal Barter, who was featured in The Weekly’s May issue said one year on it’s not just about the ‘Jolie gene’.
“While it’s fantastic that Angelina Jolie has highlighted the previously taboo topic of preventative surgery, the fact is we need to move beyond our boobs,” she said.
“Hereditary health is much more complex than just preventative surgery, it’s about empowering carriers to move from the passenger seat of their lives into the driver’s seat and make the health choices that are right for them.”
Krystal Barter was photographed for the May issue. Photography by Liz Ham.
