Angelina Jolie bares mastectomy scars in magazine feature

Angelina Jolie has revealed her mastectomy scars publicly for the first time.

In TIME France's December magazine issue, the 50-year-old Hollywood star appeared in the cover photo, showing the scars from the preventive surgeries she underwent in 2013.

"I share these scars with many women I love. And I'm always moved when I see other women share theirs. I wanted to join them, knowing that TIME France would be sharing information about breast health, prevention, and knowledge about breast cancer," Angelina said.

TIME France called Angelina's brave move a "powerful gesture and a symbol of hope" as it encourages access to information and prevention of breast cancer.

Angelina underwent the procedure to reduce her risk of one day developing breast cancer, because she has a genetic mutation that substantially increases breast cancer risk.

In the same year, she lost her aunt to breast cancer. Her passing came nearly two weeks after the actress wrote about electing to have a double mastectomy.

In 2015, Angelina also had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to avoid the risk of ovarian cancer, the disease that killed her mother at the age of 56.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by TIME France (@timefrance)

—Carby Rose Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News