Angelina Jolie’s breast removal: A smart move to earn millions?

Hollywood diva Angelina Jolie, who turned 38 today, left the world stunned with her preventive breast removal surgery amid fears of contracting the disease. Since Angelina lost her mom Marcheline Bertrand to cervical cancer in 2007 and her aunt to breast cancer recently, her brave decision was welcomed by all.

However, the preventive measure may not be the so called brave step but part of a clever corporate scheme to protect billions in BRCA gene patents. Surprisingly, her double mastectomy coincides with the Supreme Court’s decision on the viability of the BRCA1 patent. There is high possibility of Angelina Jolie securing billions through the for-profit campaign by influencing and encouraging women to go for the big surgery even if not suffering from breast cancer. 

Talking to People magazine, Angelina had revealed that she is highly prone to ovarian and breast cancer as she lost her mother to the disease. Angelina possesses the BRCA1 gene which makes her vulnerable of contracting the fatal disease. However, experts believe that the statistics also seem to be wrongly estimated. Angelina’s breast removal surgery has terrified women across the world who may go for breast removal even if slightly prone to breast cancer. 

Taking another big decision after getting her breasts removed to beat her 87 percent chances of breast cancer, Angelina has decided to get her uterus removed as well. Angelina is 50 percent more likely to contract ovarian cancer anytime in future and removal of uterus will kill her ability to give birth in future besides killing her cancer threat.

  

What is the BRCA patent all about?

If BRCA patents are allowed by the Supreme Court, the BRCA1 tests can cost USD 3,000 – USD 4,000 each. Certain variations of the BRCA1 gene lead to an increased risk for breast cancer as part of a hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome. Women with an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene have up to a 80% risk of developing breast cancer by age 90; increased risk of developing ovarian cancer is about 55% for women with BRCA1 mutations and about 25% for women with BRCA2 mutations.

  

Why Angelina Jolie went for preventive double mastectomy now?

Jolie’s surgery boosted the stocks of the company involved in the patenting process which will now get funds from the Obama led US government. The company Myriad Genetics (MYGN) has the patent of the test that identifies the cancer genes in a person. The patent expires in 2014 and the company needed a strategy to take hold of the situation.

  

Angelina Jolie walked the red carpet for the first time after her surgery at the premiere of Wolrd War Z with fiance Brad Pitt.

 

Angelina Jolie's first portrait post her breast removal surgery by Johan Andersson.

Planning to tie the knot with Pitt in a traditional Indian ceremony in Jodhpur, Angelina Jolie surprised her fans, even her father when she disclosed about her breast removal surgery in an article. Not only this, Angelina has also decided to get her uterus removed as she is 50 percent more likely to contract ovarian cancer anytime in future.
  

  

Angelina Jolie with her children Maddox, Zahara, Pax Thien and Shiloh.