| | |  | Angelina Jolie News & Gossip
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| | Angelina Jolie: I Had a Double Mastectomy | | Added 11 years ago | Source: Celebrity Gossip |
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She?s been laying low as of late, and it turns out Angelina Jolie has been recovering from a double mastectomy she underwent earlier this year.
The ?Mr. and Mrs. Smith? star explained in a New York Times op-ed that there wasn?t anything medically pressing that led to the decision, but rather her genetic predisposition to developing breast cancer.
Jolie shared, "My mother fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56. 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."
"I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. 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. I can tell my children that they don?t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer."
Angelina continued, "My own process began on Feb. 2 with a procedure known as a 'nipple delay,' which rules out disease in the breast ducts behind the nipple and draws extra blood flow to the area."
Jolie also noted that she still feels plenty of girl power- "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."
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| | Angelina Jolie reveals she had a double mastectomy in a moving NYT op-ed | | Added 11 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Angelina Jolie wrote an op-ed, published in today?s New York Times, in which she discusses her medical decision to have a double-mastectomy. Angelina?s mother Marcheline battled cancer for a decade ? Marcheline was diagnosed when Angelina was in her early 20s. I think Marcheline?s cancer battle and death in 2007 was one of the most devastating things that has ever happened to Angelina, and it gave Angelina the sense that she would probably die young like her mother. She?s always said variations of ?The women in my family die young? and that?s why she always said she chose to have so many kids so fast ? she wanted to be able to enjoy motherhood while she could. Well, Angelina?s doctors told her that she has/had a very high risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer, so she underwent the double mastectomy over the past three months. Here?s her NYT op-ed:
MY MOTHER fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56. 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.
We often speak of ?Mommy?s mommy,? and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us. They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a ?faulty? gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman. Only a fraction of breast cancers result from an inherited gene mutation. Those with a defect in BRCA1 have a 65 percent risk of getting it, on average.
Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex.
On April 27, I finished the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work.
But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people?s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action.
My own process began on Feb. 2 with a procedure known as a ?nipple delay,? which rules out disease in the breast ducts behind the nipple and draws extra blood flow to the area. This causes some pain and a lot of bruising, but it increases the chance of saving the nipple.
Two weeks later I had the major surgery, where the breast tissue is removed and temporary fillers are put in place. The operation can take eight hours. You wake up with drain tubes and expanders in your breasts. It does feel like a scene out of a science-fiction film. But days after surgery you can be back to a normal life.
Nine weeks later, the final surgery is completed with the reconstruction of the breasts with an implant. There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years, and the results can be beautiful.
I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. 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. I can tell my children that they don?t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.
It is reassuring that they see nothing that makes them uncomfortable. They can see my small scars and that?s it. Everything else is just Mommy, the same as she always was. And they know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can. 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.
I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive. So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition. Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has.
For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options. I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices.
I acknowledge that there are many wonderful holistic doctors working on alternatives to surgery. My own regimen will be posted in due course on the Web site of the Pink Lotus Breast Center. I hope that this will be helpful to other women.
Breast cancer alone kills some 458,000 people each year, according to the World Health Organization, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. It has got to be a priority to ensure that more women can access gene testing and lifesaving preventive treatment, whatever their means and background, wherever they live. The cost of testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2, at more than $3,000 in the United States, remains an obstacle for many women.
I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options.
Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.
[From The NY Times]
Damn, she made me get all teary first thing in the morning. Man. I think this is beautifully written and beautifully thought-out. Angelina has always feared that she would not be around to see her children grow up, and I think this will give her peace of mind for a while. She makes it sound like she?s going to undergo some preventative measures for her ovarian cancer risk as well ? what would that involve? A partial or total hysterectomy? I think it?s lovely that Brad was there to support her every step of the way, and I like how she explained the surgeries (because I didn?t realize that it was such a multi-stage process). God bless her.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
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| | Angelina Jolie & Maddox go matchy-matchy for an LAX appearance: cute or try-hard? | | Added 11 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Angelina Jolie! Maddox! God, he?s getting so big. These are some photos of Angelina and her oldest kid at LAX on Friday. I?m not sure if they were coming or going, but if I had to guess, I would say they were arriving at LA from London? Did Madd get to go with his mom to the G8 conference? Does Maddox think London is cool? Does he have cool London friends? So many questions.
I?m kind of obsessed with Angelina?s outfit here ? it?s like she?s wearing her Catwoman suit under that sweater. At first I thought she was wearing some kind of new-fangled leather pants-boots, like it was all one thing and you slide into your leather pants and there are boots attached. But she?s wearing leather pants and leather boots with some kind of high heel (as opposed to the leather riding boots which she wears often). Think about that ? Angelina is wearing heels and Maddox is still THAT tall. Without the heels, he must be just a few inches shorter than his mom now. Also note the presence of the Louis Vuitton bag, the only spot of color in an otherwise goth mother-and-son photo-op. Is LV still paying her?!
As for Maddox?s style? he reminds me of both of his parents. He gets his love of black clothing, skulls and the macabre from his mom. He gets his laid-back swagger from his dad. I feel like Madd is even walking like Brad!
PS? According to Us Weekly, Angelina was wearing her engagement ring for this appearance. I forgot to look. I always forget to look. Because I loathe Ring Watch. It?s the worst.
PPS? Brad is supposed to present an award at tonight?s MTV Movie Awards. That should be interesting.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
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| | Angelina Jolie and Maddox Return from London | | Added 11 years ago | Source: Celebrity Gossip |
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After a trip Across the Pond to speak at the G8 Foreign Ministers Summit in London, Angelina Jolie and Maddox arrived at LAX Airport on Friday (April 12).
Both clad in black, the "Tomb Raider" star wore a long-sleeved top, knee-high boots, and leather pants, while her eldest son wore a matching Misfits cap and sweatshirt, with black pants.
At the meeting of powerful world leaders, including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the 37-year-old actress advocated efforts to prevent rape in war zones.
Speaking about the atrocities, the Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations said, "Hundreds of thousands of women and children have been sexually assaulted, tortured or forced into sexual slavery in the wars of our generation. Wartime rape is not inevitable. This violence can be prevented, and it must be confronted. Today I believe their voices have been heard and that we finally have some hope to offer them. I welcome the long overdue stand that the G8 has taken."
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| | Angelina Jolie took sons Pax & Knox to FAO Schwarz on Friday: adorable? | | Added 11 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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As we learned last week, Angelina Jolie flew to New York City to make an appearance at the annual Women In the World Summit. She gave a moving speech about Malala Yousafzai and she was the first to pledge money to the newly formed Malala?s Fund, committed to providing education for Pakistani girls. What I didn?t know was that Angelina had brought her sons Pax and Knox to NYC too, and on Friday, she took them to FAO Schwarz.
First, can we have a word about Pax?s amazing goggles? I always get the impression that Angelina and Brad are the kinds of parents who are like, ?You want to wear that? In public? Sure. Why not?? Like, they?re not obsessed with how their kids ?look? in public, their focus is just on letting the kids be kids, and if the kid wants to wear goggles (snow goggles, maybe?) in New York in April, why not?
As for Angelina?s outfit? I think she?s worn most of this stuff before. Like, Jennifer Garner almost always wears jeans and a flannel when she?s out with her kids, and Angelina?s default style is ?modern witch?. I think the flared coat is throwing me off and giving me such a witchy vibe. The boots aren?t helping either. But the belt thing is kind of awesome, right?
As for Knox? I look at him and he just reminds me so much of Brad, even though I can see some Angelina in his face. Even though Knox is only four-and-a-half, he just carries himself like his dad. He seems so laid-back, like a little dude. I also believe Knox is close to being a ginger ? his hair seems reddish-brown. I want to believe he?ll grow up and look like Michael Fassbender. PS? his gold shoes are amazing. I wouldn?t mind having an adult pair just like those.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
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| | Angelina Jolie gives emotional tribute to Malala Yousafzai at Women's Summit | | Added 11 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Here are some photos of Angelina Jolie at the 4th Annual Women in the World Summit in New York City last night. Her Lord of the Rings ensemble is Saint Laurent Spring 2013. It?s very much ?the style of Jolie? which is to say Angelina loves a baggy sack dress, she loves black and muddy, unflattering, boring colors, and she loves an insane amount of layers. When she was at the Women in the World Summit last year, she wore a lovely black-and-white suit, so it?s not like she didn?t know that a suit would have been perfectly acceptable. I don?t understand this. Ugh. It?s like she?s still in character as Maleficent.
During her appearance at the summit, Angelina gave a speech about Malala Yousafzai, the teenage Pakistani girl who was targeted by the Taliban because she spoke out about the state of girls? education. The Taliban shot Malala point-blank in the head last year, but Malala was taken to England for treatment, and she survived. Here?s Angelina?s speech (this made me cry, just FYI, so if you need to get your tissue ready, go ahead).
Angelina says in part, “Here’s what the gunman and the Taliban accomplished on that day. They shot her at point-blank range in the head ? and made her stronger. The brutal attempt to silence her voice made it stronger.? Then Malala appeared, via video link-up, to say: “Today I’m going to announce the happiest moment of my life,” she said, revealing that money from the charity fund set up in her name would go towards building a school for 40 girls in Pakistan. “Let us turn the education of 40 girls into 40 million girls.? Angelina committed $200,000 to the new ?Malala?s Fund? for Pakistani girls? education.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
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| | Angelina Jolie arrives at LAX, tells paps that she's not wearing a wedding band | | Added 11 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Here are some new photos of Angelina Jolie, arriving at LAX after her trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo with UK Foreign Secretary William Hague to raise awareness of warzone rape. As you can see, Angelina travels light and she loves black, as always. I feel like we?ve probably seen this black skirt before, and she just paired it with a black blouse and blazer (which we?ve probably seen before too). I think she?s wearing lip gloss and nothing else on her face, which is pretty awesome.
For the tabloids, the one thing that came out of Angelina?s Congo trip was that she wasn?t wearing her huge diamond engagement ring given to her by Brad Pitt last year. She either left her diamonds at home or she simply decided not to wear them in a refugee camp, but she did wear a minimalist gold band on *that* finger, so the tabloids were all ?OMG they got married!!! SECRET!? No. Angelina was swarmed by paparazzi as she walked through LAX and they asked her flat-out if she was wearing a wedding ring. Her response? ?No.? There you have it.
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Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
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Sporting a bit of a goth look, Angelina Jolie arrived at LAX Airport for a flight in Los Angeles on Wednesday (March 27).
The "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" star donned all black with a blouse, maxi skirt, blazer, and leather boots as she made her way past the paparazzi outside.
Recently, the 37-year-old actress was in the Democratic Republic of Congo to combat the rampant warzone rapes, often used as a weapon in conflicts.
Speaking about the issue, Angelina says, "It's been going on in every war, every crisis and it's often an afterthought -- and it's due time to end this, and put an end to impunity, and [the Congolese people] deserve it."
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| | Angelina Jolie & William Hague raise awareness of warzone rape in Africa | | Added 11 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Here are some photos of Angelina Jolie on Monday in a rescue/refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This was part of Angelina?s ongoing work with UK Foreign Secretary William Hague to raise awareness about warzone rape. More than a year ago, Angelina did a high-profile event in England with Hague as part as the Cameron government?s initiative against global sexual violence. Rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse are often tools of modern warfare (they were tools of old warfare as well), and Angelina has met with rape victims and victims of sexual violence many times in her years as ambassador to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees. But you know what sucks about this? So many media outlets are focusing on Angelina not wearing her huge engagement ring and instead wearing a simple gold band. This is what is really important, I guess.
Did Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie manage to pull off the impossible — a secret wedding in Hollywood? During a trip to a rescue camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo this week, Pitt’s 37-year-old fiancee was spotted with some mysterious new bling on her ring finger: a simple gold band where her giant platinum engagement sparkler used to be.
The Maleficent actress and special envoy of the United Nations’ refugee agency is currently in Africa with British Foreign Secretary William Hague to raise awareness of warzone rape in the Congo and Rwanda. On Monday, March 25, she visited a rescue camp to meet with survivors of sexual violence.
Jolie, who has six kids with longtime love Pitt, pledged last year to devote more time to her humanitarian work. “I wake up in the morning as a mom, and I turn on the news like everybody else, and I see what’s happening,” she said. “I want to be part of the world in a positive way.”
The star noted that her family played a large part in her desire to help others. She and Pitt adopted three of their children from other countries and have made a concerted effort to stay connected to those cultures.
And to each other, of course. Last spring, after seven years together, the World War Z actor popped the question with a ring he designed himself — an emerald-cut diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds, estimated to be around 16 carats total and worth approximately $500,000.
The A-list couple had said previously that they wouldn’t wed until the ban on gay marriage was reversed, but in January 2012, Pitt hinted that they had changed their minds. “We’d actually like to,” he told The Hollywood Reporter of tying the knot, “and it seems to mean more and more to our kids.”
“We made this declaration some time ago that we weren’t going to do it till everyone can. But I don’t think we’ll be able to hold out,” he continued. “It means so much to my kids, and they ask a lot. And it means something to me, too, to make that kind of commitment.”
[From Us Weekly]
For the love of God. Maybe they?re married, maybe they?re not. Is it so weird/strange/notable that Angelina wouldn?t wear her giant diamond ring when she knew she was going to be meeting rape victims and refugees? But you know how the tabloids will spin this, right? ?SCANDAL: Angelina Jolie breaks off engagement, jaunts off to quaint African bed-and-breakfast with married Englishman, also looks anorexic.?
Here?s video of Angelina and Hague on the ground:
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
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Taking care of some humanitarian duties, Angelina Jolie paid a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday afternoon (March 25).
Joined by UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, the ?Changeling? actress chatted with ladies at a women?s rescue camp to raise awareness of warzone rape.
Angelina, a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner, spoke out about the plight of women in the Congo and their high risk of becoming victims of sexual assault.
?This visit is about hearing first hand from people who have endured rape and sexual violence during the conflict in the eastern DRC. We want to learn the lessons that their experience holds for how the world can protect thousands of women, men and children at risk of rape in many other conflict zones. And we want to persuade governments around the world to give this issue the attention it deserves. Unless the world acts, we will always be reacting to atrocities, treating survivors rather than preventing rape in the first place.?
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