Angelina Jolie Opens Up About Her Mastectomy Scars a Decade After Surgery

Angelina Jolie is sharing a deeply personal story. The actress is revealing why she is showing her mastectomy scars now. She spoke about her decision in a new interview with TIME France.

This marks a powerful moment more than ten years after her preventive surgery. The decision is tied to a mission of raising awareness. It aims to inform women about their health choices.

Timing Tied to Advocacy and Breast Health Awareness

Jolie underwent a double mastectomy in 2013. She made this choice after learning she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation. This gene greatly increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

She discussed her scars in the context of a broader conversation. The interview is part of a special issue focused on breast health. According to TIME, she wanted to join other women in sharing their stories.

“I share these scars with many women I love,” Jolie said. She explained the timing felt right to help spread important information. The goal is to promote knowledge about prevention and screening access.

A Lifelong Advocacy for Preventive Healthcare

Jolie’s advocacy extends beyond this single interview. In 2013, she wrote a powerful op-ed in The New York Times. There, she detailed her “medical choice” to reduce her cancer risk.

She later had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in 2015. This was another preventive step based on her genetic profile. Her story has sparked global conversations about genetic testing.

In her latest comments, she stressed the importance of accessible healthcare. “Every woman should always be able to determine her own healthcare journey,” she stated. She emphasized that genetic screenings must be affordable for all.

Her upcoming film, Couture, also tackles this theme. Jolie plays a filmmaker navigating a breast cancer diagnosis. She noted that such stories often focus on endings, not the life that continues.

Angelina Jolie’s decision to reveal her mastectomy scars now is a calculated act of solidarity. It continues her decade-long advocacy for informed, accessible women’s health. Her story remains a powerful catalyst for global conversation on prevention.

Thought you’d like to know

Q1: Why is Angelina Jolie talking about her mastectomy now?

She is participating in a TIME France issue dedicated to breast health awareness. Jolie stated she wanted to join other women in sharing their stories to promote prevention and knowledge. The timing aligns with a focused public information campaign.

Q2: What is the BRCA1 gene Angelina Jolie has?

The BRCA1 gene is a mutation that significantly increases a person’s lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Carriers often consider preventive surgeries to mitigate this risk. Jolie’s public disclosure in 2013 brought widespread attention to genetic testing.

Q3: What surgeries has Angelina Jolie had?

She had a preventive double mastectomy in 2013. Jolie later underwent surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes in 2015. Both procedures were to reduce her high cancer risk linked to the BRCA1 gene.

Q4: What is her new film Couture about?

Couture is a film where Jolie plays a filmmaker diagnosed with breast cancer. She mentioned it seeks to show life and resilience beyond a cancer diagnosis. The project aligns closely with her real-world health advocacy.

Q5: What is her main message about healthcare?

Jolie’s core message is that women must have autonomy over their healthcare journeys. She argues that life-saving genetic testing and screenings should be accessible and affordable for everyone. Her advocacy focuses on empowerment through information.