Brad Pitt has opened up about his fiancé, Angelina Jolie’s decision to undergo a double mastectomy as a preventative measure, considering doctors told her she had an 87 percent chance of getting breast cancer due to a “faulty” gene. She also revealed she has a 50 percent chance of getting ovarian cancer.
In a statement, Pitt, who shares six kids with his Mr. and Mrs. Smith co-star, says "Having witnessed this decision firsthand, I find Angie's choice, as well as many others like her, absolutely heroic. I thank our medical team for their care and focus."
He continued, "All I want is for her to have a long and healthy life, with myself and our children," Pitt continued. "This is a happy day for our family,” USA Today reports.
Jolie revealed in a New York Times essay, titled “My Medical Choice,” that she had undergone the surgery and it has narrowed her chances of getting breast cancer down to 5 percent.
She said she underwent three months of medical procedures, ending on April 27.
“During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work,” the actress wrote. “But I am writing about it now because 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 sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action.”