http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html?_r=2&

My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman.

Only a fraction of breast cancers result from an inherited gene mutation. Those with a defect in BRCA1 have a 65 percent risk of getting it, on average.

Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex.

On April 27, I finished the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work.

I feel very sorry for her, this must have been a horrible choice.

It is good that she has come forward to talk about her decision and experience. It is a very difficult and courageous decision for any woman to make. Unfortunately, not enough women have the resources to be tested for the gene or have the surgery, but the ones who do, should seriously consider making a similar choice.