Angelina Jolie’s announcement raises awareness about preventative double mastectomy

Actress Angelina Jolie’s announcement that she underwent a double mastectomy has brought the discussion about breast cancer back into the lime light.

She made the decision to have surgery after testing positive for a mutation in the BRCA1 gene. The mutation increases the risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 70% in women. And increases the risk of ovarian cancer by up to 50 per cent.

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Mutations in  BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes are found in 1 per cent of the population.

They account for 5 – 10 per cent of breast cancers.

In BC – close to 50 per cent of those who test positive opt for preventative double mastectomies.

The rest go for regular exams so if they do develop cancer it will be detected in the early and more treatable stages.

To find out more, check out the BC Cancer Agencies Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer web site.

For full story, tune in to News Hour at 6 o’clock tonight.