Melissa Etheridge: Angelina Jolie's Mastectomy Is "Fearful," Not "Brave"

US Weekly ^ | June 17, 2013 AT 6:00PM | Allison Takeda

[drewh]

Angelina Jolie's decision to get a double mastectomy after learning she had the breast cancer gene mutation has been lauded by many as courageous, empowering, and even heroic. But singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge -- a breast cancer survivor herself -- thinks it's actually the opposite of those things.

Asked about Jolie's recent New York Times op-ed, in which she revealed the news of her mastectomy and breast reconstruction, 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.

"I have to say I feel a little differently," the Grammy-winning chanteuse (who, incidentally, performed at Brad Pitt's wedding to Jennifer Aniston) said of the choice to get a preventive mastectomy. "I have that gene mutation too, and it's not something I would believe in for myself. I wouldn't call it the brave choice. I actually think it's the most fearful choice you can make when confronting anything with cancer."

"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. Plenty of people have the gene mutation and everything, but it never comes to cancer," she continued, noting that surgical removal of one's breasts is "way down the line on the spectrum of what you can do" to lessen your risk of the disease.

"I've been cancer free for nine years now, and looking back, I completely understand why I got cancer," she added. "There was so much acidity in everything. I really encourage people to go a lot longer and further before coming to that conclusion [of a mastectomy]."

To be fair, Jolie said in her May 14 editorial that the decision to have a mastectomy was a personal one. Her main point was that women should be informed about the various options available to them.

"I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices," she wrote.

"Life comes with many challenges," she explained. "The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of."

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Well, Brad does have George Clooney for consolation.

[latina4dubya]

i know! what an ass to imply Ms. Jolie did not do extensive research... and Mr. Ethridge is full of crap to think cancer is soley caused by environment, and people have full control as to whethet or not we contract it...

[latina4dubya]

Tony Snow was a high risk for cancer... he was frequently tested... and he died of cancer... we don’t always have control no matter the precautions we take...

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Very good! What you say is true.

[RegulatorCountry]

It’s a tangle ain’t it.

[Nervous Tick]

>> She’s taking it harder than Brad Pitt.

Sure. He had ‘em frozen, you know. Out of the icebox, they feel about the same as when they were original equipment.

NT!!! STOP THAT!!! BAD BOY!!!

I’ll admit, that *was* cold...

[Smokin' Joe]

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”.

Well said!

[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)

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I disagree. Jolie’s mother died of breast cancer, and while she was waiting for her own genetic test results, her aunt died of breast cancer. Since she has adopted several children, she either doesn’t want to, or can’t carry children herself.

That being said, her breasts are ornamental, and with post mastectomy repair would look much the same. The difference being that she would not have two hand grenades taped to her chest.

Her odds for cancer were 50% for ovarian, and 87% for breast. Now, at least for breast cancer, her odds are down to about 3%.

[vladimir998]

you wrote:

“And you don’t have much knowledge of state-of-the-art cancer treatment best practices.”

Actually I do. I just disagree with hacking off perfectly healthy body parts merely because there is a chance that the person might later develop cancer. If the flesh isn’t diseased, it shouldn’t be hacked off.

[rabidralph]

OTOH, Jolie could get hit by a bus tomorrow and still be dead. I find her choice to be fearful as well. I get regular cancer screenings, and if I had the BRAC 1 gene, I would probably get twice yearly screenings. In the meantime, science might discover better screening methods or a more precise way of eradicating the disease. Jolie has no way of knowing this. However, it was her decision to make and I respect that.

[Norm Lenhart]

Since losing my wife to liver cancer at 29 (not a typo) And raising aour daughter alone, I think people SHOULD be REALLY scared of what cancer does. Personally I’d rather not give the disease 180 days to grow undetected between screenings when I KNOW I am at risk genetically.

But to each their own.

[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.

[CaptainK]

Her mother and aunt died from breast cancer. On her mother’s side of the family her uncle, grandfather and grandmother all died of cancer.

I don’t think her decision is bizarre at all.

[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.