DALAWANG taon na ang nakalilipas nang isulat ni Angelina Jolie sa New York Times ang tungkol sa kanyang preventative double mastectomy at planong pagpapatanggal sa kanyang obaryo at fallopian tubes matapos siyang magpositibo sa BRCA1 gene. At tuluyan na nga niya itong ipinatanggal.

Sa ilang pahina ng New York Times, ibinahagi ni Angelina ang mga detalye ng operasyon sa kanya at sinabing: “I know my children will never have to say, ‘Mom died of ovarian cancer,”

Ayon kay Angelina, noong una, plano lamang niyang ipatanggal ang kanyang obaryo dahil sa malaking tsansa na tubuan ito ng kanser pagdating ng panahon, ngunit dahil sa resulta ng kanyang blood test na nakitaan ng early-stage ng ovarian cancer, nagdesisyon na siyang tuluyan na itong ipatanggal. Ito ay kapareho ng uri ng cancer na ikinamatay ng kanyang ina sa edad na 56. (Kanser din ang naging dahilan ng pagkamatay ng kanyang lola at tita).

Empleyadong lasing, patay matapos sapakin ng ginising na katrabaho

“She was very soft but could move mountains for her kids,” paglalarawan ni Angelina sa kanyang yumaong ina na si Marcheline Bertrand, na namatay noong 2007. “I feel in contact with my mother when I look at my children. I can feel her influence over me then.”

Labis na nangungulila si Jolie na hindi na masisilayan ng kanyang ina ang paglaki ng kanyang mga apo: “My mother was made to be a grandmother.”

“I went through what I imagine thousands of other women have felt,” sambit ng aktres nang malaman ang resulta ng kanyang blood test. “I told myself to stay calm, to be strong, and that I had no reason to think I wouldn’t live to see my children grow up and to meet my grandchildren.”

Habang hinihintay ang resulta ng PET/CT scan noong nakaraang linggo, sinabi niyang umuwi si Brad Pitt sa kanilang tahanan mula France upang makasama siya nito at mapanood ang soccer game ng kanilang mga anak sa Los Angeles.

“The beautiful thing about such moments in life is that there is so much clarity,” bahagi ni Jolie. “You know what you live for and what matters. It is polarizing, and it is peaceful.”

Aniya, nais niyang maiwasang mangyari ang nangyari sa kanyang mga mahal sa buhay.

“I did not do this solely because I carry the BRCA1 gene mutation, and I want other women to hear this,” paliwanag ni Jolie. “A positive BRCA test does not mean a leap to surgery. I have spoken to many doctors, surgeons and naturopaths. There are other options. Some women take birth control pills or rely on alternative medicines combined with frequent checks. There is more than one way to deal with any health issue. The most important thing is to learn about the options and choose what is right for you personally.”

Kasalukuyan siyang sumasailalim sa therapy.