A Farewell to Breasts - The Angelina Effect

Tomb Raider star Angelina Jolie has undergone a double mastectomy due to a faulty gene that might cause breast cancer. The superstar’s genes served her well up until now, making her one of the sexiest women today in the world. But all good things must have an end, and Angelina has taken the action to become an inspiration to women with her brave decision – undergoing a double mastectomy surgery.

Fans of the actress’ famous figure need not fear, as she is going to have cosmetic implants to preserve her appearance. Angelina Jolie’s mother died of cancer, and Angelina tested positive for the BRCA1 gene, meaning her likelihood of contracting breast cancer was comparatively high. “A Farewell to Arms” by Hemingway was published in 1929 and it eventually became the book marked his popularity as a modern American writer. 

Angelina’s a farewell to breasts has shocked the world further, and she became the newest cover face of the TIME. What is the Angelina effect? Absolutely it will be anyone’s guess . . . Anyway, let’s stay tuned. Mastectomy ( Greek word: breast + removal ) is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. 

Mastectomy is usually done to treat breast cancer; in some cases, women and some men believed to be at high risk of breast cancer have the operation prophylactically, that is, to prevent cancer rather than treat it. It is also the medical procedure carried out to remove breast cancer tissue in males. Alternatively, certain patients can choose to have a wide local excision, also known as a lumpectomy, an operation in which a small volume of breast tissue containing the tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue is removed to conserve the breast. Both mastectomy and lumpectomy are what are referred to as "local therapies" for breast cancer, targeting the area of the tumor, as opposed to systemic therapies such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or immunotherapy. Traditionally, in the case of breast cancer, the whole breast was removed. Currently the decision to do the mastectomy is based on various factors including breast size, number of lesions, biologic aggressiveness of a breast cancer, the availability of adjuvant radiation, and the willingness of the patient to accept higher rates of tumor recurrences after lumpectomy and radiation. Outcome studies comparing mastectomy to lumpectomy with radiation have suggested that routine radical mastectomy surgeries will not always prevent later distant secondary tumors arising from micro-metastases prior to discovery, diagnosis, and operation.