Angelina Jolie bares mastectomy scars for first time.
The actress opened up on her successful procedure in 2013 and why she’s choosing to reveal her scars.
Jolie underwent the procedure as she said doctors told her at the time that she had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer.
Speaking to the New York Times at the time, the mum-of-six said: “I decided to be proactive and to minimise the risk as much I could,” with former husband Brad Pitt saying at the time that it was ‘absolutely heroic’.
Despite her brave act, the Lara Croft star has never showed her scars off – until now.
Now 50, Jolie has made the cover of TIME France, while showing her markings for the first time, explaining to the publication: “I share these scars with many women I love.
“And I’m always moved when I see other women share theirs.
“I wanted to join them, knowing that TIME France would be sharing information about breast health, prevention, and knowledge about breast cancer.”
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Angelina has advocated for breast cancer awareness since her mom, fellow actor Marcheline Bertrand, died from the illness in 2007 at age 56. She then went through her own health scare six years later, revealing in her 2013 New York Times op-ed piece that doctors found a “faulty gene” called BRCA1—which increased her risk of getting breast cancer and ovarian cancer—in her tests.
To help lower the odds, the Atelier Jolie founder had the preventative surgery shortly after her screening.
“The decision to have a mastectomy was not easy,” she wrote at the time. “But it is one I am very happy that I made. I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.”
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Angelina also removed her ovaries and fallopian tubes two years later, a decision she recently noted “every woman” should have access to when navigating their “own health journey.”
“Genetic tests and screening are intended to be accessible and affordable for women with obvious risk factors or significant family history,” she explained to TIME. “When in 2013, I shared my experience, it was to encourage informed choices. Health decisions must be personal, and women must have the information and support necessary to make these choices.”
She added, “Access to screening and care should not depend on financial resources or where you live.”
Jolie can be seeing posing in a low-cut sweater, covering one of her breasts with her hand, with photos of the double mastectomy scars set to be released alongside the full interview on Friday 18 December.
Speaking to the New York Times at the time of her preventative surgery, she opened up about her mum’s decade-long battle with cancer before passing away, writing: “She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms.
“But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was.”
Following the procedure, her risk of developing breast cancer dropped from 87 percent to under five percent.
“On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity,” Jolie further stated.
