Why We Shouldn't Get Angelina Jolie's Double Mastectomy, According to Doctors
By Victoria Dawson Hoff
Almost exactly a year ago, Angelina Jolie shocked the world when she penned an op-ed for The New York Times detailing her decision to get a double mastectomy. Doctors had informed the actress (and June 2014 ELLE cover girl) that she had an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer and 50 percent odds for ovarian cancer based on her family history, and she thus made the choice to take her health into her own hands and undergo the controversial procedure to preventatively remove and reconstruct both of her breasts. Jolie's elective surgery—as well as opting to share it with the world—sparked an international conversation about prevention and cancer, and inspired many others at risk to explore similar options. But now, doctors are saying that following Jolie's lead is medically unnecessary for most of the people who choose to do so—even if they only opt to remove one cancerous breast.
Related: Angelina Jolie Opens Up
A new study published in the JAMA Surgery journal shows that 70 percent of women who decide to get a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy—that is, removing both a cancerous and healthy breast simultaneously—don't actually need to, since the risk for contracting the disease again is exceedingly low (just 3 percent). Interestingly, researchers also found in their survey of more than 1,400 women, that those with higher educations were more likely to opt for the extensive, preventative surgery.
So though rates of double mastectomies have more than quintupled over the past 15 years, doctors now advise at-risk patients to take pause. "They want to choose the surgical procedure that they think gives them the lowest possibility of recurrence and the greatest chance of surviving their breast cancer," Dr. Tari King, deputy chief and director of research for the breast surgical service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, told CBS News. "But...when we tell them that removing their normal breast won't make them live longer and there is no survival benefit, there's a disconnect. It's not always guaranteed that the choice you make to remove both breasts is really going to make you feel as good as you think it might at the time that you're making that decision."
It's a reminder that health trends are not fashion trends—and a decision like this is certainly not one-size-fits-all.
Related: 17 Household Chemicals That Are Now Linked With Breast Cancer
Related: What They Don't Tell You About Surviving Cancer
Victoria Dawson Hoff Associate Editor Victoria Hoff is the associate editor at ELLE.com, covering everything from fashion to beauty to wellness.
More From Health & Fitness 2019
Could an Alzheimer's Cure Be on the Horizon?
How Do I Stop Sweating So Much?
Erica Chidi Cohen Teaches Sex Ed to the Stars
Sweat Bees Found Feeding On Woman's Tears
7 Health and Beauty Benefits of Seaweed
7 Things I Learned From Cutting Sugar
Sponsored by Sponsored by Sponsored by
Chobani
15 Foods to Help You Burn Calories
The Real Reason You're Grinding Your Teeth
So, What Exactly Is Ayurvedic Massage?
The Chain Is an Eating Disorder Support Group
Health & Fitness 2019
Worldwide Exclusive: Angelina Jolie Opens Up
What Living Through Cancer in Your 20s Looks Like
Christina Applegate Gets Real About Her Body After Breast Cancer
Queen of England Makes Angelina Jolie a Dame
Angelina Jolie Is a Secret Shoe Designer
See Angelina Jolie's Incredibly Personal Wedding Dress