A Serious Threat
The definition of a threat according to Webster’s is “warning of plan to harm.”
That’s exactly the way it seems Angelina Jolie sized up her health future after genetic testing showed she had a high risk of developing breast cancer. It was revealed today that she’s undergone a preventative double mastectomy. This decision could not have come easily. No doubt she had many medical experts weigh-in before she made this choice, but when it came down to it, it was her’s alone to decide. Courage is a wonderful quality.
She’s become another warrior in cancer world, the way I see it. Instead of fighting cancer in the treatment room, she reached out ahead of it and took away the power this beast holds over its victims. Hooray!
She joins many others who have made this extreme choice. They’re all warriors in this fight.
This isn’t the road for everyone and luckily there are other choices if genetic testing reveals this threat. The best part about this is, it wasn’t that many years ago when women didn’t have any choices at all. If the genes were there, the cancer would follow and you know the rest.
Pre-emptive strikes against cancer are not available to everyone…not yet. Genetic testing is clearly the way cancer diagnosis is headed and eventually it will be affordable and efficient for all.
This wasn’t a movie role this time…no make believe.
This was as real as life gets…a serious threat.
May 14, 2013 @ 7:13 pm
It was discussed at work today and I think I would make the choice Angelina did but I don’t think one really knows until they need to make the choice. I admire her for her courage.
Laurie H.
I pray that your brother and his wife will have the strength to get through these next few months.
May 14, 2013 @ 6:37 pm
Lifting of course!! It is a scary time when the procedures are done, pain usually accompanies the procedures then there is the fear that what they did will not work as intended. Lots of stress.
In spite of it all, it is worth it in my opinion. It may work and if it does….a celebration will ensue. If it doesn’t work, we kinda know what Plan B will be…. removal. Remain hopeful and positive…Believe in Miracles…They do occur. Continue to encourage them Laurie. As you know, it means a great deal when you feel alone in your battle.
May 14, 2013 @ 5:20 pm
An amazing decision. It was even more amazing when she told the world. She reached out to let every woman out there know, there is a choice.
I am not sure many woman can afford it, but the choice is there!
My brother went home from the hospital yesterday. What a grueling 5 days. They remove the eye and insert a cylinder loaded with radiation. He said if he knew it would have been that painful, he may have opted to remove the eye. His wife never left his side. They are in this fight together.
He goes back in 30 days to make sure all is healing well, then in 4 months they run more tests to make sure the cancer did not spread. That’s the scary part… I feel for them, it’s that wait that is going to be forefront in their lives for the next 4 months. There is nothing to do but pray and wait. So, in our world, I will continue to lift…I know y’all will too!