Angelina Jolie Loses Aunt to Breast Cancer

On Sunday, Debbie Martin, Angelina Jolie’s aunt, died at the age of 61 at San Diego. Martin was the younger sister of Jolie’s mother and died due to the same type of breast cancer that killed Jolie’s mother, Marcheline Bertrand, at the age of 56 in 2007. Both women suffered from the same defective BRCA1 gene that Jolie has been diagnosed with.



Jolie had a double mastectomy done in February after it was confirmed that she was carrying the BRCA1 gene and had an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer. She also has a chance of developing ovarian cancer, but the risk percentage is lesser than that for the cancer affecting the breasts.



Ron Martin, the husband of Debbie told E! News, “Angelina has been in touch throughout the week and her brother Jamie has been with us, giving his support day by day.”

"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."

I hope someone takes those words to heart. And I hope that "someone' is insurance companies so women can get these blood tests without the $3K bill.