[Nervous Tick]

At this point, what difference does it make?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Etheridge told the Washington Blade that she wouldn't make the same decision for herself. Nor would she encourage others to do so without properly researching their options.

Melissa thinks nobody except her is capable of "properly researching their options."

[Blackirish]

My sister made the same decision as Jolie. The doctors removed a lump but told her she had a 10% chance of it coming back. My sister looked at her two baby daughters. .. 2 and 5. ...and would have cut off her legs to make sure she was there to raise them .

[Nervous Tick]

>> “My belief is that cancer comes from inside you, and so much of it has to do with the environment of your body. It’s the stress that will turn that gene on or not.”

It’s always been amazing to me how merely having mediocre skill at music, and moderate attractiveness, and the fortune of being in the right place at the right time, confers extraordinary powers of knowledge and understanding about essentially EVERY subject to the American “celebrity”.

It’s uncanny.

[a fool in paradise]

Under Obamacare, you’d be advised to just take the pain pill rather than seek any surgery.

[Irenic]

But I bet she thinks it is brave when a homosexual comes out of the closet.

Go quietly fade away, Melissa.

[vladimir998]

I never thought I would agree with Melissa Etheridge, but I do.

I think what Jolie did was not only fearful, but stupid. You don’t have healthy, normal body parts removed because of a chance of cancer. If you have a very high chance of developing cancer, you simply get frequently tested. If you actually develop the disease, then you take appropriate action. What Jolie did was bizarre and unhinged - no matter how liberals in the MSM laud it as “brave”.

[SC_Pete]

Okay, I’ll say it: Melissa Etheridge is retarded.

[Norm Lenhart]

Mel is right. It’s just foolish to be afraid of getting cancer, dying horribly and leaving your family alone.

Total stupidity.

[hadaclueonce]

Another story the US MSM can sink their teeth in.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

I think they both make valid points and I am not the person to judge. That being said, I think they are both idiotic narcisitics who felt the need to tell the world “look at me, look at me.”

[Maigrey]

I guess Ms. Ethridge didn't do all of her research. There is also a blood cancer - called Acute Lymphobastic Leukemia - and it waylaid a family member. She had blood work done in the first part of September - nothing showed up - and by the end of October (8 weeks) she was fighting for her life.

In this case, chemo bought her 8 months against that monster. (and she nearly died twice during that initial fight.) I know - I was there as her PCA (and everything else she needed) those first three months of that fight.

So I won't denigrate Ms. Jolie for making her choice - or Ms. Ethridge pontificating hers.

I loathe that anyone has to go through such a terrible disease.

[Gumdrop]

And, Angelina Jolie should care what Melissa Ethridge says - why?

[KosmicKitty]

I thank God every day that my tests came back that I didn’t have the BRACI or BRACII gene as well a a more obscure gene for ovarian cancer.

But, after much thought while waiting for the results, I would have a hysterectomy&/or mastectomy if the test cam back positive. Disclaimer: I have 4 kids and have passed the point of having more.

After watching my mother battle ovarian and colon cancer, I will do what ever I have to do not to go through that.

And, please, the screening for colon cancer isn’t the most fun thing in the world, but bit the bullet and just do it!! Cancer is so much worse than a day or 2 of discomfort!! (My personal cause)

[Secret Agent Man]

i think angelina jolie made an informed decision and it’s nobody else’s life but hers. nobody cares more about jolie’s health more than jolie.

nobody cares more about your health than you. you have to care, only you live in that body. she didn’t just make this decision on a whim and without consultations and research and taking family history into account.

i have no problem with her doing proper research and consultation and contemplating the odds, and from that, making her’own medical decision she believes is the right way to go.

if i were a woman, facing a similar issue, i am not sure i’d make the exact same one, or have the same timetable. but i am not her.

[Lilyjuslan]

My mother died from ovarian cancer at age 52. My sister died from inflammatory breast cancer at age 37. My sister tested positive for BRCA 1. I was tested after she got her results and I'm negative. Had I tested positive, I'd have had the surgery done in a NY minute. If a person is positive, than 50% of their offspring will also have the gene mutation. People with the BRCA gene tend to get cancer an average of ten years younger than their parent was when diagnosed. IMO, Angelina Jolie did what she had to do and Melissa Ethredge is a fool.

[Lilyjuslan]

My mother died from ovarian cancer at age 52. My sister died from inflammatory breast cancer at age 37. My sister tested positive for BRCA 1. I was tested after she got her results and I'm negative. Had I tested positive, I'd have had the surgery done in a NY minute. If a person is positive, than 50% of their offspring will also have the gene mutation. People with the BRCA gene tend to get cancer an average of ten years younger than their parent was when diagnosed. IMO, Angelina Jolie did what she had to do and Melissa Ethredge is a fool.

[VeniVidiVici]

My dad has had several cancers. We have the same endocrinologist and he’s never advocated having body parts removed “just in case”.

[GOP Poet]

Gee. So much for a woman’s right to choose. THese liberals are a hoot. Angie made her decision and I am sure it wasn’t easy. She wanted to be sure to be there for her family and wanted to do anything necessary. Melissa made up her mind about what she wanted. I noticed Angie didn’t attack people her chose to use alternate therapies and even validated it as an option. Angie showed class, thoughtfulness, and respect. She also choose to go to any lengths to be there for her children. I admire and respect that. Melissa is a classless trash.