Why Angelina Jolie Defends Choice to Undergo Breast Removal Surgery

Angelina Jolie (Credit Photo: IMDb)

Actress and mother, Angelina Jolie underwent a preventative double mastectomy (removal of both her breasts) in April because of a mutated BRCA1 gene known to raise the risk of breast cancer by 87 percent and ovarian cancer by up to a 54 percent.

In her tell-all “My Medical Choice”, Jolie shares that although it was a difficult choice it was necessary. Jolie reports her mother had breast cancer and died of ovarian cancer, and her grandmother also had ovarian cancer.

This for Jolie (and health professionals) was adequate evidence to remove both her healthy breasts to avoid the same outcome. It is often advised that women who have this gene would benefit from ovarian removal as well, yet it is unclear whether Jolie will make that decision in the future.

Also during the surgery, doctors placed a tissue expander under her skin; a device which slowly stretches the skin making room for a breast implant to optimize the final cosmetic appearance.

After surgery, Jolie was said to be ‘energetic and positive.’ For Jolie, the best outcome to the double mastectomy is that she has increased her chance to have a healthy and happy life with her loving family.

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Taking Smarter Risks for Happiness? Absolutely.

What if you could increase your happiness by 6-10% with a few simple risks? Would you take them?

We have been taught that risks are a bad thing. Why? Perhaps because risks can lead to failure and loss.

In fact, our brains are wired to avoid risky situations. Dr. Tali Sharot a Neuroscientist and author of The Optimisms Bias found that the frontal lobes, used primarily in decision making and perceived future risk assessment, play a huge role in our happiness and risk-taking behavior. Stating in an interview, “Taking [risks] can result in negative events since too-positive assumptions can lead to disastrous miscalculations.”

However, gaining lasting happiness comes from taking the right risks (seriously, no one wants to deal with the repercussions of a bad risk.)

This creates a paradox that’s like a teeter-totter, on one side our brain wants to stop us from taking risks, while on the other side risk-taking behavior can make us happier. As stated in Psychology Today the article “Flourish” by Angie LeVan, “Thus it seems quite paradoxical to include risk-taking as one of the primary behaviors that leads to the ‘good life.’”

Happiness is then ‘risky business’—to be happier we have to take better risks. So come join The Happiness Movement every second Wednesday @ 7:30PM for fun conversations on building more happiness today, tomorrow, and in the future.

For one more resource see The Optimism Bias by Tali Sharot or read her blog The Guardian: The Observer. Hope to see you all there!

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