06:48 AM EDT 05/24/2013

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Angelina Jolie

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Inspired by Angelina? 5 Easy Ways to Help Prevent Cancer | Angelina Jolie, Harley Pasternak

Celebrity Blog

Angelina Jolie Takes Action Vs. Cancer – How You Can, Too!

Originally posted 05/22/2013 02:45PM

Recently, Angelina Jolie revealed that she "decided to be proactive" and underwent a preventive double mastectomy upon discovering she had the gene that would most likely cause her to develop breast cancer.

I enjoy her movies and admire her work with the U.N., but I truly respect her for being such an incredible role model for women who are faced with similar odds.

Arguably one of the most beautiful women in the world, Angelina is redefining femininity, beauty, strength, and setting an example of how WE can make decisions and take actions that can actually increase our span and quality of life.

For many, Angelina's surgery (and her plan to undergo another surgery to remove her ovaries) may seem hard to relate to, and somewhat extreme.  Not all of us are faced with the odds that Angelina faces (or should I say, DID face).

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How Brad Helped Angelina Heal After Surgeries

UpdatePosted 05/22/2013 09:30AM

How Brad Pitt Helped Angelina Jolie Heal After Surgeries

Originally posted 05/22/2013 08:00AM

Talk about teamwork.

In the weeks surrounding Angelina Jolie's preventive double mastectomy and subsequent reconstructive surgery, her fiancé, Brad Pitt, served as her No. 1 support.

At the bustling home they share with their six kids in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, "Brad did everything he could to keep things secret and protect Angie," a family insider tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story.

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Brad Pitt Recalls the Moment He Decided to Stop Wasting His Life | Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt Recalls the Moment He Decided to Stop Wasting His Life

Originally posted 05/21/2013 01:40PM

These days, Brad Pitt is known to work tirelessly in every sphere of his life, committed to his craft, his family and his philanthropy. But it wasn't always so.

The World War Z star can recall a time, not so long ago, when he was adrift – unable to find a focus, and wasting his life pursuing the wrong things.

Until one day, he decided to do something about it.

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Readers Send Angelina Jolie Their Love, Tori Spelling's Ring Gets a Laugh

Angelina Jolie Gets Reader Love, While Tori Spelling's Ring Gets a Laugh

Originally posted 05/18/2013 03:00PM

Angelina Jolie's remarkable story about undergoing a preventative double mastectomy triggered an outpouring of empathy this week, as well as opened the door to the important discussion of women's health issues.

At the other end of the spectrum, good fun was had over the gift Dean McDermott gave Tori Spelling for their seventh wedding anniversary.

Here are the five stories that sparked the strongest reactions from readers over this past week – the news that made you happy, sad, laugh out loud, awestruck, even angry.

In the meantime, please keep clicking on the emoticons at the bottom of every story – one way to tell us exactly what you think.

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Angelina: Getting Double Mastectomy Was the 'Right Thing to Do For Our Family' | Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie: 'This Was the Right Thing to Do For Our Family'

Originally posted 05/18/2013 10:30AM

She was facing down the most frightening challenge of her life, but on Valentine's Day of this year, Angelina Jolie was focused on nothing more than dinosaurs, bugs and precious family time.

When the star visited the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles on Feb. 14 with fiancé Brad Pitt and their 4-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox, "the kids could barely contain themselves, but Brad and Angie spoke to them in quiet voices to calm them down," says an observer. "They stayed back and let the kids explore fossils and insects on their own. They all seemed to have fun."

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Angelina's Doctor Reveals New Details of Her Mastectomy Surgeries

Angelina Jolie's Doctor Reveals New Details of Her Mastectomy Surgeries

Originally posted 05/16/2013 11:15AM

Angelina Jolie's doctor marveled at the actress's spirit and optimism during the three months of surgeries needed to complete her double mastectomy, and says her speedy recovery was due in large part to her positive outlook.

"To a large extent, I believe recovery reflects expectation," Dr. Kristi Funk of the Pink Lotus Breast Center writes in a lengthy blog post offering step-by-step details of Jolie's BRCA diagnosis, surgeries and recuperation.

"On day four after her mastectomies, I was pleased to find her not only in good spirits with bountiful energy, but with two walls in her house covered with freshly assembled storyboards for the next project she is directing," Funk writes.

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PHOTO: Brad Pitt Steps Out in L.A. After Angelina's Mastectomy Announcement | Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt Steps Out in L.A. After Angelina Jolie's Mastectomy Announcement

Originally posted 05/16/2013 10:00AM

After publicly supporting fiancée Angelina Jolie after her recent revelation that she underwent a preventative double mastectomy, it's back to business for Brad Pitt.

The actor stepped out to visit Paramount Studios on Wednesday, where he was photographed sporting aviators and an all-black ensemble.

On Tuesday, Jolie, 37, revealed in an op-ed for the New York Times that she had undergone a double mastectomy after genetic tests showed her to have a high risk of developing breast cancer. Her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died of ovarian cancer at 56 in 2007.

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Angelina's Double Mastectomy: What to Know About the 'Faulty' Gene | Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's Double Mastectomy: What to Know About the 'Faulty' Gene

Originally posted 05/16/2013 07:00AM

Angelina Jolie says she underwent a double mastectomy after she found out she carried the "faulty" BRCA1 gene and was told she had an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer.

The announcement not only made headlines around the world, but prompted questions of whether other women need to be concerned if they too carry the mutated gene.

Here are seven things to know:

1. What is BRCA1 and BRCA 2?
They're genes everyone has. But those who have a bad copy or mutation are at increased risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer.

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Filed Under: Health, Angelina Jolie
How Angelina Jolie Kept Her Surgery a Secret | Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie Kept Her Surgery a Secret: How She Did It

Originally posted 05/15/2013 02:00PM

On Feb. 2, Angelina Jolie, 37, began the long, complex process of undergoing a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery – yet she still kept living her very full life without anyone around her the wiser. How did she do it?

Her father Jon Voight, 74, with whom she reconciled after a difficult relationship, told the New York Daily News that he was surprised along with the rest of the world to learn of his daughter's surgeries, saying that he understood her decision.

"I want the focus to be on the inspiration," he said.

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Angelina's Brave Decision – and Her Next Surgery | Angelina Jolie

Angelina's Brave Decision – and Her Next Surgery

Originally posted 05/15/2013 07:30AM

Angelina Jolie is one resilient mom.

The actress, 37, has experienced no complications since undergoing a double mastectomy in February and reconstructive surgery in April. "She is doing well," a source tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story.

But her medical odyssey is not done. The mother of six is also planning to undergo surgery to remove her ovaries. Because of her "faulty" BRCA1 gene, she still faces a high risk of developing ovarian cancer, which her doctors estimate at 50 percent. Some doctors recommend patients undergo the surgery by age 40 or when a woman is done having children, though it may trigger early menopause.

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