--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I made a decision to have a preventive…" description: "\"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 can..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/angelina-jolie-468_breast-cancer_i-made-a-decision-to-have-a-preventive-d_521123.jpg" --- # I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy… ![“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.” quote by Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/angelina-jolie-468_breast-cancer_i-made-a-decision-to-have-a-preventive-d_521123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/angelina-jolie-468_breast-cancer_i-made-a-decision-to-have-a-preventive-d_521123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/angelina-jolie-468_breast-cancer_i-made-a-decision-to-have-a-preventive-d_521123.jpg) > “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.” [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing preventive surgery reduces future health risk despite complexity. **In simple terms:** Preventive action protects health. Key Takeaway Take proactive health measures. Themes health prevention choice Mood cautious determined Type personal medical When to use this quote - genetic testing - surgical decisions - family planning Key Concepts Medical ethics risk management Questions to Reflect On - How do you weigh risks? - What support is needed? A Different Perspective Emotional and physical costs of surgery are significant. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breast cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breast-cancer/) [Breasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breasts/) [Breasts Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breasts-risk-4396892/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Double Mastectomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/double-mastectomy-1203180/) [Mastectomy Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mastectomy-started-4396891/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Ovarian cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ovarian-cancer/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk Breast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-breast-286324/) [Started Breasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-breasts-4396893/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) ## Related quotes > [For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options. I want to encourage every woman, especially if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/for-any-woman-reading-this-i-hope-it-helps-you-to-know-you-have/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I know my children will never have to say, 'Mom died of ovarian cancer.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-know-my-children-will-never-have-to-say-mom-died-of-ovarian-cancer/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/cancer-is-still-a-word-that-strikes-fear-into-people-s-hearts/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-hope-that-other-women-can-benefit-from-my-experience-cancer-is/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [Before I had a double mastectomy, I was already pretty flat-chested, and I made so many jokes over the years about how small my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/before-i-had-a-double-mastectomy-i-was-already-pretty-flat-chested/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [On the morning of May 1, 2018, I woke up knowing that the day I had anticipated for nine years had finally arrived. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/on-the-morning-of-may-1-2018-i-woke-up-knowing-that-the-day-i-had/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [I made the choice to have the double mastectomy, and for me it felt like the right choice, and it turned out to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-robach/i-made-the-choice-to-have-the-double-mastectomy-and-for-me-it-felt/) [Amy Robach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-robach/) > [For me it was just more important to get the cancer out. With the double mastectomy I now have less than one per cent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuliana-rancic/for-me-it-was-just-more-important-to-get-the-cancer-out-with-the/) [Giuliana Rancic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuliana-rancic/) > [2 years of breast cancer & a double mastectomy later. Giuliana Rancic is still gorgeous & alive! What a miracle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/2-years-of-breast-cancer-a-double-mastectomy-later-giuliana-rancic-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men are at risk for breast cancer as well. That's absolutely true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/men-are-at-risk-for-breast-cancer-as-well-that-s-absolutely-true/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [Lifestyle changes may help reduce risk, but no study has shown that lifestyle changes alone can eliminate the risk of breast cancer, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ornish/lifestyle-changes-may-help-reduce-risk-but-no-study-has-shown-that/) [Dean Ornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ornish/) > [Being exposed to high levels of radiation can increase a man's risk of breast cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-exposed-to-high-levels-of-radiation-can-increase-a-man-s-risk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most significant and alarming consequence of early maturation is an increased risk for breast cancer in adulthood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-fuhrman/the-most-significant-and-alarming-consequence-of-early-maturation-is/) [Joel Fuhrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-fuhrman/) > [Having the BRCA mutation significantly increases the risk of breast cancer, but it is not always the only factor. Lifestyle choices may increase or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ornish/having-the-brca-mutation-significantly-increases-the-risk-of-breast/) [Dean Ornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ornish/) > [“red wine (one glass a night) five nights per week—unless you’re at high risk for breast cancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-agus/red-wine-one-glass-a-night-five-nights-per-week-unless-you-re-at-high/) [David B. Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-agus/) ## More by Angelina Jolie > [It's hard no to work, so I find a way to put myself back to work. And I think it's important, in between projects,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/it-s-hard-no-to-work-so-i-find-a-way-to-put-myself-back-to-work-and-i/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [There is no shame in being a survivor of sexual violence. The shame is on the aggressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/there-is-no-shame-in-being-a-survivor-of-sexual-violence-the-shame-is/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I wanted to tell the story of Luong Ung, who's a dear friend of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-wanted-to-tell-the-story-of-luong-ung-who-s-a-dear-friend-of-mine/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [It doesn't take courage to drink too much and be wild or jump around. That doesn't take any kind of boldness, just riding a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/it-doesn-t-take-courage-to-drink-too-much-and-be-wild-or-jump-around/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [Sexism is part of every industry and must be addressed. But I try not to focus on the negative but the positive side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/sexism-is-part-of-every-industry-and-must-be-addressed-but-i-try-not/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I'm getting a wrinkle above my eyebrow because I just can't stop lifting it, and I love that you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-m-getting-a-wrinkle-above-my-eyebrow-because-i-just-can-t-stop/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [The only way to have a life is to commit to it like crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/the-only-way-to-have-a-life-is-to-commit-to-it-like-crazy/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I love Brad in every state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-love-brad-in-every-state/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [The nice thing about being a director is that I can say, "I can only get into the room after the kids are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/the-nice-thing-about-being-a-director-is-that-i-can-say-i-can-only/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [To be intimate with a married man, when my own father cheated on my mother, is not something I could forgive. I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/to-be-intimate-with-a-married-man-when-my-own-father-cheated-on-my/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [No matter what you have gone through in your youth, it is about who you choose to be in life. You can define your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/no-matter-what-you-have-gone-through-in-your-youth-it-is-about-who/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I'd love to have a great relationship with my father. And unfortunately... I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-d-love-to-have-a-great-relationship-with-my-father-and/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [My kids will be needing me a lot when they hit their teens. If I know anything about being a teenager. I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/my-kids-will-be-needing-me-a-lot-when-they-hit-their-teens-if-i-know/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I never save things and I never take pictures. I wanna live in the moment. I don't wanna be focusing on the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-never-save-things-and-i-never-take-pictures-i-wanna-live-in-the/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [If you can imagine the area and the land in Cambodia, I mean there are hardly any roads in big parts of the country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/if-you-can-imagine-the-area-and-the-land-in-cambodia-i-mean-there-are/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) [Explore all 538 Angelina Jolie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) ## More Breast cancer quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [It's October! Breast Cancer Awareness Month, wear pink, show support!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-october-breast-cancer-awareness-month-wear-pink-show-support/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel that between my experience and my mother's, breast cancer is a little bit like someone who lives next door. I know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-nixon/i-feel-that-between-my-experience-and-my-mother-s-breast-cancer-is-a/) [Cynthia Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-nixon/) > [With breast cancer, it's all about detection. You have to educate young women and encourage them to do everything they have to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-rancic/with-breast-cancer-it-s-all-about-detection-you-have-to-educate-young/) [Bill Rancic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-rancic/) > [The women I know who have gone through breast cancer still laugh a lot. They're not crying all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/the-women-i-know-who-have-gone-through-breast-cancer-still-laugh-a/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [It's finally October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so go buy your pink ribbon and support beautiful breasts everywhere!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-finally-october-and-breast-cancer-awareness-month-so-go-buy-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I chose the Pink Fund because my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and I was pretty young in high school. At the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/i-chose-the-pink-fund-because-my-mom-was-diagnosed-with-breast-cancer/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/having-breast-cancer-is-massive-amounts-of-no-fun/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Once I overcame breast cancer, I wasn't afraid of anything anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/once-i-overcame-breast-cancer-i-wasn-t-afraid-of-anything-anymore/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [I am involved with so many charitable organizations. Lung Cancer because of my dad, Breast Cancer because as a woman and mother of two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-robbins/i-am-involved-with-so-many-charitable-organizations-lung-cancer/) [Lois Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-robbins/) > [For years I've carried the label 'ex-anorexic;' no doubt that will now change to 'breast cancer patient.' But we all have challenges to face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-strachan/for-years-i-ve-carried-the-label-ex-anorexic-no-doubt-that-will-now/) [Michaela Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-strachan/) > [But when this happens to you - and I think other people would identify with this - suddenly, colors are brighter. You see everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-redgrave/but-when-this-happens-to-you-and-i-think-other-people-would-identify/) [Lynn Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-redgrave/) > [My mother had never had a day's illness in her life and never thought to have checks. Then, at 78, she discovered she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wakeman/my-mother-had-never-had-a-day-s-illness-in-her-life-and-never-thought/) [Rick Wakeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wakeman/) [Browse all 343 Breast cancer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breast-cancer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. 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