Angelina Jolie Undergoes Preventive Double Mastectomy

Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy puts genetic key to breast cancer in the spotlight.

The developing science of DNA profiling helped the actress decide to have a double mastectomy

Even celebrities are mortal. They share our genes and, like us, cannot escape their inheritance. Angelina Jolie’s graceful and dignified account of her encounter with her own mortality in The New York Times will inspire millions.

It will also shine a light on the developing science of genetic diagnosis and DNA profiling which is increasingly allowing patients at high risk of inherited diseases to be identified so that they can take preventive action.