In an op/ed piece in the New York Times today Angelina Jolie wrote about undergoing prophylactic surgery in the face of very high odds that she would develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Her mother died at 56, and Jolie inherited the gene that makes the probability so high, calculated to be 87%.

She also has a very high risk for ovarian cancer, so I won't be surprised in the future to learn of an hysterectomy or some sort of modified surgery to do with preventing ovarian cancer.

The point was made in a discussion this morning on NPR that with genetic research, there area few things that we know, such as this kind of cancer risk, that have "actionable" aspects. Women can be tested, and can choose to act before it hits.

I've followed for years the courageous struggle of several of our Mudcat members, in particular, LilyFestre who had ovarian cancer. Her growth through the process and her advocacy today are what convince women to check into these things sooner rather than later, and to act if they need to.

Angelina Jolie is in the odd position of living her life in public, and at times she comes across as a pampered little rich girl. But there is substance to this young woman, and I suspect this move and her public acknowledgement of her choice may just save a few lives in the world. Good work!

SRS