PriyankaSR Posted May 15, 2013 Posted May 15, 2013 Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has undergone a double mastectomy to reduce her chances of getting breast cancer. The 37-year-old mother of six has explained her reasons for having the surgery in the New York Times. She said her doctors estimated she had an 87% risk of breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian cancer. "I decided to be proactive and to minimise the risk as much I could," she wrote. Her partner, Brad Pitt, praised her choice as "absolutely heroic". Risk reduced Ms Jolie said the process began in February and was completed by the end of April. In an article entitled My Medical Choice, she explained that her mother fought cancer for nearly a decade and died at the age of 56. Family history of breast cancer About one in five women diagnosed with breast cancer will have a significant family history of the disease Having close family members - first-degree relatives like a sister, mother, aunt or uncle - with breast cancer raises a woman's own risk of the disease Certain genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 are strongly linked with breast cancer and can be detected with genetic tests Women carrying the BRCA1 mutation have up to a 65% chance of developing breast cancer by the time they are 70 Fewer than 1% of women are at high risk of developing breast cancer Another 2% of women deemed to be at moderate risk might also benefit from taking preventive breast cancer drugs for five years, say experts DNA mapping for cancer patients Breast cancer: drugs or surgery? She said she had sought to reassure her children that the same illness would not take her away from them, "but the truth is I carry a 'faulty' gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer". She said that once she "knew that this was my reality", she had taken the decision to undergo the nine weeks of complex surgery required to have a double mastectomy, followed by reconstruction of the breasts with implants. "There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years, and the results can be beautiful," she wrote. Dr Kristi Funk said she hoped Angelina Jolie's choice would help raise awareness around the world Her chances of developing breast cancer have now dropped from 87% to under 5%, she said. She praised her partner, actor Brad Pitt, for his love and support throughout the procedure, and said she was reassured that her children had found nothing in the results "that makes them uncomfortable". "I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity," she said. "For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options," Ms Jolie went on to say. "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." In an interview with the Evening Standard, Brad Pitt said: "Having witnessed this decision firsthand, I find Angie's choice, as well as so many others like her, absolutely heroic. "All I want for is for her to have a long and healthy life, with myself and our children. This is a happy day for our family." Ms Jolie, an award-winning actress and director, is also a long-time supporter of humanitarian causes. She is currently a special envoy for the UN Refugee Agency. During the period she was undergoing the double mastectomy procedure, Ms Jolie visited the Democratic Republic of Congo with UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and attended the G8 summit of foreign ministers in London to raise awareness over sexual violence in conflict. She also helped launch a charity to fund girls' education set up by the Pakistani schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai, who survived being shot by the Taliban last October. Ms Jolie has three biological children and three adopted children. Risk factor Emma Parlons, a 38-year-old mother from London who had the operation three years ago, welcomed her decision to raise awareness of the issue. Emma Parlons: "If somebody said your flight was 86% likely to come down, you wouldn't get on that plane" Ms Parlons said her risk of getting breast cancer was the same as the actress's. "If somebody said your flight across the Atlantic was 86% likely to come down, you wouldn't get on that plane would you?" she said in an explanation of her reasons for having the operation. Professor Gareth Evans, of the Manchester Breast Centre in Britain, said the two genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 (breast cancer one and two) "were the first two majorly breast cancer pre-disposing genes that were identified" and are also linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
Crookbond Posted May 15, 2013 Posted May 15, 2013 Also, I think there has been a little bit of insensitivity of major counts on this news. Not being judgmental; just an observer.
FischerTal Posted May 15, 2013 Posted May 15, 2013 good for her. better to be safe than sorry. my grandma had stage 3 breast cancer. trust me, its one of the worst things a person can go through in life. you get elephantitis, more prone to other diseases, and just a horrible way to die. :((
PriyankaSR Posted May 16, 2013 Author Posted May 16, 2013 good for her. better to be safe than sorry. my grandma had stage 3 breast cancer. trust me' date=' its one of the worst things a person can go through in life. you get elephantitis, more prone to other diseases, and just a horrible way to die. :(([/quote'] You can get Elephantiasis by Breast cancer? :omg:
FischerTal Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 You can get Elephantiasis by Breast cancer? :omg: my grandma did, in her legs. they became as wide as a person's frame
PriyankaSR Posted May 16, 2013 Author Posted May 16, 2013 Is there any cure for elephentitis in India? Kasaragod (Kerala), Feb 9: A cure for elephantiasis is now possible in India, thanks to efforts of Institute of Applied Dermatology in Kerala's Kasaragod District. This institute, has after over ten years of research, found a cure for elephantiasis by mixing both Ayurveda and English medicine. Elephantiasis or Lymphatic Filariasis affects 25 million people across 15 states in the country, and this new method has helped to treat over 500 patients. In an exclusive interview to ANI, Chief Dermatologist and one of the founders of this Institute, Dr. S R Narahari, described it as a pioneering effort, given the gravity of the disease which is affecting the whole social fabric of the patients who are suffering from elephantiasis". "Ayurveda and Yoga is a self care for the management of lymphoedema. A skin wash, dipping the infected leg in ayurvedic skin tonic, massaging with special oil and modern compression bandage and medicines are the uniqueness of this treatment," he added. Dr. Bose, the administrative principal of the Institute, said that it is necessary for patients to monitor and manage the disease as per prescription. "The two week treatment costs the patient between rupees 15000 to 20,000 and is spread out over six months," he added. The Institute is working in collaboration with Professor Terance Ryan of Dermatology Department of Oxford Medical University and supported by the Indian Council of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and the Forum for Ethical Review Committee in India. Janardhan, a 25-year old patient, was referred to the Institute and lost 18 kgs in his left leg in just six months. He wants this treatment to be extended to hundreds of other patients suffering from elephantiasis. India with over 25 million people suffering from elephantiasis must worry over how it wants to combat this deadly disease effectively. But this new effective treatment can boast of at least 80 percent cure. Lymphatic Filariasis is non-curable disease often affecting the legs and scrotum resulting in chronic swelling, scaring and extreme disability. It is also known as elephantiasis because the swollen leg resembles that of an elephant. The World Health Organization (WHO) named filariasis as the fourth leading cause of disability in the world. (ANI)
hhunaeh Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 Also' date=' I think there has been a little bit of insensitivity of major counts on this news. Not being judgmental; just an observer.[/quote'] Are you talking about the nasty sexual comments or something in the reporting itself?
1983-2011 Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 Does she have any ofe her own biological offspring or are they all adopted
hhunaeh Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 Angelina’s breast surgery possible in India, but there’s a catch To recap, what Angelia Jolie did was test for a faulty gene (BRCA1) that raised her risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Her test was prompted by the fear that she might be genetically susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer because her mother died young of cancer. The test for the BRCA1 gene in her was positive and doctors told her that she indeed had a very high risk of contracting the illness. To prevent it, she underwent mastectomy (surgical removal of the breast). Mastectomy is a routine procedure in breast cancer, but in Jolie's case she didn't wait for the cancer to manifest, and did the surgery to pre-empt it. In her message to women across the world, she advised them to find out their risks by doing the gene test and exercise the preventive options available to them. Sounds like a breakthrough idea because breast cancer is the most common cancer in urban India and accounts for about 25 to 35 percent of the country's cancer burden in cities. In addition, the average age of breast cancer patients is also coming down from 50-70 years to 30-40 years. If there is a possibility of getting tested and acting early, it is certainly empowering and life-affirming. The gene Jolie talked about was BRCA1 (breast cancer 1) and there is one more that makes women susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer - BRCA2 (breast cancer 2). If these genes are damaged (BRAC mutation), then you will be at risk of contracting breast and ovarian cancer. However, such an anomaly accounts for only five to ten percent of breast cancers - don't get hyper anxious if your mother or somebody else in the family has had breast cancer. One can have a mutation in either one of the genes or both. Jolie had it only in one (BRCA1). Several studies have shown that BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations do exist in Indian cancer patients.Till 2003 there were no reports of Indian families with such mutations when this research detected nine cases in a controlled sample of 90 women which included ten breast cancer patients. Significantly, a 2009 study in south Indian patients showed a BRCA mutation of 28 per cent, indicating that this test is indeed valuable for early prevention. So can we test in India and gain from the same treatment privilege that Jolie had? Surely yes. The new generation labs do test for both BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. One can ask for a test for either of the genes or both. It's roughly about 60,000-plus for both and about 30, 000-plus for one. Compared to the prices in the US (US $3,000), it's much cheaper - roughly one-sixth; but according to available information, the tests can be done for about US $ 200. So far so good. The test is great and although it's expensive, it's available in India. Not bad. But the real story is more sordid than what it appears to be in the US. In the US, both the genes as well as the diagnosis are patented by a company called Myriad Genetics, which means that only labs licensed by Myriad, and NOBDOY ELSE can do the test. The implication is that for an illness of such fear and consequence, you cannot have a second test elsewhere or have a second opinion. In simple terms, it is like doing a diabetes test in the same lab and not being able to repeat it elsewhere to see if the diagnosis is correct. This monopoly has led to a moral and legal battle in the US. In 2009, cancer patients supported by the American Civil Liberties Union went to a Federal Court in New York, which said the patents were invalid. An appeal court, however, overruled the decision and finally the case landed at the Supreme Court last month. In other words, Myriad still has the patents which have been contested in the Supreme Court since mid-April. Many of the judges hearing the case were clearly opposed to the patents awarded for “merely isolating a gene†while some were concerned that an adverse decision can impact future research. The Obama administration, hailed for health reforms in the country, curiously stayed neutral. Reports indicate that the court might finally make a compromise ruling that will be against Myriad's BRCA gene patents, but still permit genes that are synthetsised (non-naturally occuring genes that are synthetically created). The US Trademark and Patent office has so far awarded 4000 human gene related patents which preclude a lot of gene-related research because a patent on a single gene can prevent research on several other genes. For instance, Myriad argues that any gene with 15 nucleotides of the BRCA belongs to them. Apparently, the nucleotides appear in 689 genes related to various body functions including that of the brain and the heart. If Myriad wins the case, it can impact not only genetic research, but diagnosis and treatment of illnesses related to them as well. In America, about 40 percent of our genes don't belong to us, but to corporations. In an article in Washington Post, two reputed academics argued that the case was a chance for the Supreme Court to rectify this “genetic injusticeâ€. They said the genes of the human genome, like other natural body parts, belonged to their owners, not to companies seeking to exploit monopolies. “If the court allows these types of patents to stand, it will put the endeavors of openly researching, preventing and treating lethal diseases on a lower level of importance than a set of ill-conceived property rights,†they said. Fortunately in India, the BRCA genes are not patented and hence the tests are available exactly the way generic copies of non-patented or patent-expired drugs are available. However, there is no protection against such patents in the future. The amended Indian patent law does have lacunae that permit such patents, mostly because it borrowed legal-language from developed countries and the patent office has signed MoUs with them. Analysis by activist-researchers KM Gopakumar of Third World Network (TWN) and Visalakshi of (CENTAD) shows that the Indian patent office has indeed granted several patents on genes. The researchers are currently analysing suspected gene patents for follow up action While encouraging women to future-proof their lives, Angelina Jolie although hasn't told us about these intrigues, she does make a reference to the cost and access. “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,†she wrote in her article. So yet again, it is a case of access-to-treatment Vs profit-hungry Big Pharma. It's high time that politicians and policy makers in India are aware of the complexities of this game. Supporting innovation in life sciences and biotechnology should not be at the cost of human lives. Had our politicians been careful at the time of amending the Patent Act, we would have been on a more certain wicket. We are still not late. We should apply Angelia Jolie's principle of prophylactic mastectomy to our Patent Law.
hhunaeh Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 Does she have any ofe her own biological offspring or are they all adopted i think she has 3 kids with brad pitt
hhunaeh Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 In India, even cancer patients don’t want to undergo mastectomy Revealing the extent of the stigma attached to mastectomy in India, Deepa Thayal, senior consultant, breast cancer surgery at Delhi’s Fortis La Femme says, “In India, mastectomy is a big stigma. So much so, even patients who are diagnosed with cancer don’t want to opt for it. They accept it with great difficulty. Opting for preventive surgery is, therefore, not something that can happen in the Indian scenario easily. Besides, the feeling among patients is that when they don’t have cancer, why go for such an extensive surgery.†The second reason why the procedure was not so well-known, say doctors, is because the gene test –prerequisite for the surgery –was not commonly recommended by doctors in India.
Crookbond Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 Are you talking about the nasty sexual comments or something in the reporting itself? Nasty sexual comments all over the Internet.
Crookbond Posted May 18, 2013 Posted May 18, 2013 My Medical Choice - Anjelina Jolie http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html?_r=5& 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. :hatsoff: 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. :finger: to haters 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.
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