Jolie's Announcement Of Double Mastectomy Opens Door For Dialogue

The Bruins may be the most talked about sports news in town today, but in the world of medicine and health, the most talked about news of the day, by far, is Angelina Jolie.

In today's New York Times, Jolie revealed that she recently chose to have a double-mastectomy.

Jolie is 37. Her mother died of cancer at the age of 56, and Jolie revealed that she has tested positive for BRCA1, a gene linked to a dramatically higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

In order to reduce her risk, Jolie opted to have a double mastectomy, followed by breast reconstruction surgery. In her Times op-ed she writes, "I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity."

Carey Goldberg, co-host of WBUR's CommonHealth site

Sharon Bober, PhD, founder and director of the Sexual Health Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

WBUR's CommonHealth, "That this highly public figure offers such intimate details about her body and her breasts may be a sign that the taboos around cancer are dwindling."

Facing Our Risk Of Cancer Empowered, "We are the only national non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer."