Angelina Jolie on April 11, flanked by G8 ministers including Secretary of State John Kerry. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, pool)

Angelina Jolie is a siren, a vixen. Exotic and curvy by Hollywood standards, she made a name for herself slinking across red carpets and film sets as the walking embodiment of sex. She’s the dark-haired beauty who stole the sexiest man in America from America’s blond sweetheart.

She’s the stuff of Hollywood legend. Making her announcement that she recently underwent a preventive double mastectomy all the more jarring.

In a New York Times op-ed, Jolie describes her decision-making and treatment process following the discovery that she carried a “faulty” gene, BRCA1. The presence of which sharply increases her risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer (her mother passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 56 after battling the disease for a decade).

“On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman,” she writes. “I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in now way diminishes my femininity.”

Jolie didn’t have to go public. Not even a whisper of her condition had leaked to the press. She could have had reconstructive surgery, walked the red carpet and rolled her eyes as blogs wondered if she had a boob job. Instead she used her personal struggle and celebrity to give a platform to a serious issue.

This approach falls in line with the humanitarian Jolie has become. An evolution that began when she started working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees after being exposed to humanitarian crises while filming the Lara Croft franchise.

“She’s the biggest name of all, and I think given her prominence and her visibility not only as a famous person but also a beautiful actress, it’s going to carry a lot of weight for women,” said Barron H. Lerner, a medical historian and the author of “The Breast Cancer Wars” told the New York Times.

The cost of testing for mutations of BRCA genes comes in at more than $3,000. Why the high price tag? The biotech company that discovered the gene filed a patent for it in 1995, giving them a monopoly on products that can test for mutations. The Supreme Court is still deciding whether a corporation can file a patent based on a gene invented by Mother Nature and present in every single cell in every single person on earth.

Jolie’s situation is seen as special and high-risk by the medical community. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are estimated to cause only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers and 10 to 15 percent of ovarian cancers among white women in the United States. But statistics for other racial and ethnic groups are not available. Odd, given that African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer than their White counterparts.

Studies show that few Black women younger than 50, a population disproportionately afflicted with and dying from early-onset breast cancer, undergo genetic testing. Only one third of Black women aged 50 or younger who met national guidelines for genetic testing for breast cancer had been referred for such testing.

Moreover, the high cost of healthcare in this country — and the fact that many still lack coverage — make it cost-prohibitive for many to take basic tests, like a mammogram, let alone receive treatment.

Family history and financial status are thought to influence their treatment choices. “Through our study, we determined that 34 participants met national guidelines for BRCA testing,” study co-author Tuya Pal, M.D. said. “But only 13 reported that their health care providers referred them for genetic counseling and/or testing.”

Now that Jolie has the world talking, maybe the issues surrounding breast and ovarian cancer will get more attention.

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C. Cleveland covers professional development topics and entrepreneurial rebels who blaze their own career paths. She explores these stories and more on The Red Read, Twitter (@CleveInTheCity) and Facebook (/MyReadIsRed).

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Hollywood bombshell Angelina Jolie revealed today in an op-ed post that she did for the New York Times that she underwent a double mastectomy procedure over the last few months. In the piece, titled My Medical Choice, she explains that the major decision was made after Jolie was told by doctors that she had a “faulty” BRCA1 gene which could increase her risk of developing breast cancer, and even ovarian cancer greatly. Jolie watched her own mother die from cancer, ovarian cancer, in 2007 at the age of 56 after a ten year battle. Here’s some highlights from her very poignant article:

“My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman.

Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex.

On April 27, I finished the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work.

But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action.”

Jolie went on to discuss that she underwent three complex steps in her procedure, including a “n*pple delay,” where extra blood is directed toward the breast ducts behind the n*pple which can ultimately save it; then there was the second procedure where her breast tissue was removed, which took eight hours; lastly, she had a reconstructive surgery where she had implants put in. All in all, Jolie seems to be happy with her results, and more pleased with the fact that she did what she needed to do to be around longer for her children (her chances of having breast cancer in the future have gone down to five percent).

“It is reassuring that they see nothing that makes them uncomfortable. They can see my small scars and that’s it. Everything else is just Mommy, the same as she always was. And they know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can. On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.”

Check out Jolie’s full article over at the New York Times where she goes on to discuss the support she received from her partner, Brad Pitt, and why she wanted to share her story so that more women would know that they have options. Definitely a brave choice.

What do you think of her choice to undergo the procedure after hearing that she had the “faulty gene”?

Love can blossom anywhere. For most actors and celebrities, love usually springs forth with a fellow star but these 15 celebs bucked Hollywood trends and married ordinary people.

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Proving that Cupid can strike anywhere, Matt Damon was on location in Miami in 2003 to film the movie Stuck On You. While visiting a local bar one night, Damon would meet the love of his life, Luciana Barroso, behind the counter. Damon made his move on the single mother of one. Two years later they were married. Now the couple has four daughters. In an interview with UK’s “The Guardian,” Damon gushed about “My wife is my soul mate. I can’t imagine being without her.”

Studies have shown that the chances of an affair turning into a long-lasting relationship are roughly one in 100, but these 15 celebrities have beaten the odds by settling down with their secret lovers. Who’d a thunk it?

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Prince Charles first met Camilla Parker Bowles in 1970 at a polo match. Though they dated for a little while, both the Prince of Wales and Bowles went on to marry other people. Prince Charles’s fairytale marriage to Princess Diana was thoroughly publicized. So was their divorce and his extramarital affair with Bowles, who he began secretly seeing again in the 80’s. After his divorce was finalized in 1996, Prince Charles and Bowles kept their relationship out of the limelight, finally tying the knot in 2005.

Source: Bossip

We’ve witnessed actress Taraji P. Henson blossom into one fabulous individual over the years and it’s so hard not to love her wild sense of humor and her down to earth personality. The 42-year-old knockout recently paid a visit to the Wendy Show where she chatted it up about everything from parenting to her rumored relationship with Idris Elba. Check out some of what she had to say.

 On putting off her son’s college enrollment: 

“I had my son sit out a semester. Well, a year. We did the gap year. I just felt like he wasn’t ready. He’s of college age. He’s on his way to college. He was supposed to start last year. I want to set him up for success not failure. And a lot of kids when they go to college and they’re not mentally ready, they’re not mature enough and they fail. He’s not gonna waste my money. I feel like we invest in our children’s future and like I said I want to set him up for success not failure. Yes and he did [get a job for a year to mature] and I’m so proud of him. He’s such a good boy, he just wasn’t ready.”

On the Think Like a Man sequel: 

“Yes, [a sequel is] being made. We start [filming] May 13th in Vegas.”

On how (and why) she maintains a low profile: 

“I do [go out shopping while in New York City]. We [Mary J. Blige and I] hang out. I was just with her at Noble. This is what you guys need to understand. I don’t do it and I’m not judging, but a lot of celebrities call the paparazzi to meet them where they’re going. So I am choosing to have a private life because I have a son. I have a son who is on the Internet. And like I said last time I was here, I don’t know what it is to grow up, you know his father was murdered. I don’t know what it is to grow up without a dad, my grandfather is murdered and now my mom is this big celebrity and she’s always in the tabloids. I wouldn’t do that to him.”

On the rumored romance shared between she and Idris Elba: 

“There’s the record I’ve slept with every man I’ve ever worked with. There it is! No [that is not true at all]. I just do not mix business with pleasure… If you have sex with them why would they want to work with you again?”

Turn the page to watch Taraji’s interview and find out which one of her hot co-stars she’d sleep with if she had to choose between Michael Ealy, Brad Pitt and Tyrese Gibson. 

Playing a character who rushes in to save the day on the big screen is one thing, but these 15 celebrities became real-life heroes by leaping forward to save the lives of ordinary people.

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Rapper T.I. has been on a mission to rehabilitate his image since  he was released from prison after those gun possession charges, and having “hero” on his resume certainly helps. While on his way to an Atlanta radio station for an interview, the reality show star heard a news report about someone at a 22-story building ready to jump. T.I. recorded a video of himself pleading with the man to come and talk to him. The police played the video to the distressed man who agreed to come down and T.I. and the unidentified man shared a brief conversation before the cops took him to the hospital to be treated for depression.

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Usually the first question a couple gets asked after they get engaged is “when is the wedding date!?” While some couples make wedding plans right away, others simply want to take it in and savor the moment. For celebrity couples, this may be even more true, since we all know that Hollywood marriages tend to last a hot minute. While we respect a couple’s right to take their time, there are some couples that have been together for what seems like FOREVER, and we wonder if they’ll ever make it down the aisle. Whether it’s because a baby is on the way, they want to do it right or there simply is no rush, we wonder if we’ll be hearing wedding bells in 2013 for the following couples.

Credit: DJDM / WENN

From EurWeb

John Legend, Russell Simmons, Danny Glover, Brad Pitt and filmaker Eugene Jarecki released joint statements in praise of President Barack Obama’s evolution on the enforcement of marijuana legislation on Wednesday, agreeing with Obama’s assertion that “we’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

The president was discussing recreational marijuana use in Colorado and Washington, two states that legalized recreational pot use by adults.

Pitt and company — executive producers of the Jarecki-directed film “The House I Live In” — released the following statement:

Read more at EurWeb.com.

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It’s tough being a celebrity. Why you ask? I mean how are you supposed to choose from the many, many attractive men and many, many smokin’ hot women who throw themselves at you? Easy, you can’t. Celebrities are only human, after all. And while their inability to keep their lust to themselves could cause some problems in their personal life, it provides endless entertainment for the rest of us. So for your viewing, thank God I don’t have all that drama going on, pleasure, here are 15 of the craziest celebrity love triangles.

From Eur Web

Mike Tyson took a trip down memory lane recently, revealing he was ”mad as hell” when he caught a then unknown Brad Pitt in bed with his ex-wife Robin Givens during their divorce in the late 80s.

In an interview on talk show “In Depth With Graham Bensinger,” Tyson said: ”I was mad as hell! I was going to … you should have seen his face when he saw me.”

Read more at EurWeb.com.