“Take time to take care of yourself”: Angelina Jolie’s emotional message in memory of her mother who died of cancer 15 years ago

If any Hollywood artist has shown by example (and maybe a little controversy) the importance of taking care of yourself to prevent breast and ovarian cancer, that is. Angelina Jolie.

In 2013, when she was 37 years old, the actress revealed that she underwent a preventive double mastectomy. Then, two years later, she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, a decision she made to reduce her chances of ever contracting the disease that killed her mother.

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On her Instagram profile, where she has 14.3 million followers and describes herself as a “mom, filmmaker, refugee advocate, humanitarian,” the “Maleficent” actress urged women to take care of their health as part of World Ovarian Cancer Day, which is celebrated every May 8.

In her post, the 47-year-old humanitarian activist shared a very old family photo of her with her mother, who died 15 years ago after a battle with the disease.

“Tomorrow would be my mother’s 73rd birthday. She passed away 15 years ago, after a long battle with breast and ovarian cancer. In June, I turned one month old when I was diagnosed. I’ve had preventive surgeries to try to reduce the chances, but I still go for check-ups,” he reflected.

“My mother loved Hendrix. And he always signed his letters ‘Kiss the sky’. After his death, it took on a new meaning. I send my love to those who have also lost loved ones and strength to those who are fighting for their lives and the lives of their loved ones right now.

“And to other women, please take the time to take care of yourself and get mammograms and blood tests or ultrasounds, especially if you have a family history of cancer #worldovariancancerday,” she said in her post.

Angelina Jolie’s decision

In an essay for Time (2019), Jolie reflected on her preventive actions after the tragedy of losing her mother to cancer, People gathers.

“I just feel like I’ve made decisions to improve my chances of being here and seeing my kids grow up and meeting my grandkids…I hope to put as many years into their lives as possible and be here for them,” she said.

People reports that the actress’ mother died of breast and ovarian cancer in 2007, at the age of 56, and the artist’s aunt passed away in 2013. That year, Angelina Jolie decided to undergo a double mastectomy after genetic tests showed that she carried the BRCA1 gene that predisposed to the development of breast cancer.

The actress was married to Brad Pitt and they are the parents of six children: Maddox (21), Pax (19), Zahara (18), Shiloh (16) and twins Knox and Vivienne (14).

(AND)