(Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)
Angelina Jolie has made a powerful statement by publicly revealing her mastectomy scars for the first time in a photo shoot for Time France. The 50-year-old actress and humanitarian shared her personal experience, emphasizing the importance of breast cancer awareness, health prevention, and support for women facing similar challenges.
“I share these scars with many women I love,” Jolie said during the interview. “And I’m always moved when I see other women share theirs.” Her words reflect the solidarity she feels with other women who have gone through similar experiences, particularly those who have undergone mastectomies due to cancer risks.
Jolie explained that she chose to be part of the photo shoot because Time France was highlighting crucial information about breast health and prevention. “I wanted to join them, knowing that TIME France would be sharing information about breast health, prevention, and knowledge about breast cancer,” she said. Her decision to share her story aligns with her long-standing commitment to raising awareness around the importance of healthcare choices for women.
In 2013, the Maleficent actress made headlines when she publicly revealed that she had undergone a double mastectomy after discovering she carried the BRCA1 gene, which significantly increased her risk of breast cancer. At the time, Jolie wrote an emotional op-ed for The New York Times, where she shared her reasoning behind the decision.
“I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy,” Jolie wrote in her 2013 op-ed. “But it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent.” The decision, though difficult, brought her peace of mind about her health and her ability to stay with her children. “I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer,” she added.
Since her initial public disclosure, Jolie has become a vocal advocate for women’s health, particularly in the areas of cancer prevention and the importance of genetic testing. In her latest interview, she reiterated her belief that all women should have access to the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about their healthcare.
“Every woman should always be able to determine her own healthcare journey and have the information she needs to make informed choices: genetic testing and screening should be accessible and affordable for women with clear risk factors or a significant family history,” Jolie told Time France. Her words underscore her ongoing advocacy for equitable healthcare access, especially for women at high risk for breast cancer.
Jolie’s public disclosure of her mastectomy and her ongoing efforts to educate others are part of a broader commitment to empowering women to take control of their health decisions. “When I shared my experience in 2013, it was to encourage informed choices,” she explained. “Healthcare decisions must be personal, and women must have the information and support they need to make those choices. Access to screening and care should not depend on financial resources or where someone lives.”
Through her continued openness about her own health journey, Angelina Jolie has become a leading voice in the movement to increase awareness and accessibility around breast cancer prevention and care. Her advocacy has touched many lives, inspiring other women to make informed decisions about their health, just as she did years ago.
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