Shock: Angelina Jolie Underwent Double Mastectomy to Prevent Breast and Ovarian Cancer

If you didn't see this story, actress Angelina Jolie revealed today in an op-ed to The New York Times that she had a double mastectomy to prevent the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. 

Citing a "faulty" gene (BRCA1) that increases her risk of having the cancers, Jolie said her doctors informed her that she had an 87% risk for breast cancer and 50% risk for ovarian cancer. 

"Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much as I could," Jolie writes in the Times. The Pink Event commends Jolie and other women who make a very personal decision to be proactive in preventing breast cancer. 

And don't forget that this week is National Women's Health Week. It's a time for you to get the check-ups necessary so that your total wellness is in tip-top shape.