What Angelina Jolie's Story Can Help Us Understand About BRCA Gene Changes and Prevention

The news

In 2013, actor Angelina Jolie publicly shared that she carries a change in the BRCA1 gene that increases her risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and that she had chosen to have risk-reducing (preventive) surgery. She wrote about her decision openly to encourage others to learn about their own risk. Importantly, this is a prevention story, not a cancer diagnosis story.

Those are the facts she chose to share publicly. We do not speculate about any private details beyond that.

Why people are talking about it

Her openness introduced a wide audience to something many had never considered: that an inherited gene change can raise cancer risk, that testing exists, and that people at high risk have options. Researchers later described a measurable rise in genetic-testing conversations following her disclosure. She was also careful to emphasize that her choice was personal, not a recommendation for everyone.

What this topic means

According to the National Cancer Institute, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that produce proteins that help repair damaged DNA. Everyone has two copies of each gene, one inherited from each parent. People who inherit a harmful change (a mutation or pathogenic variant) in one of these genes have increased risks of several cancers — most notably breast and ovarian cancer, and also some others — and tend to develop cancer at younger ages.

NCI notes that harmful BRCA changes are uncommon in the general population (roughly 1 in 400), though they are more common in certain populations. A harmful change raises risk but does not mean a person will definitely develop cancer — some people who inherit one never do.

Common questions

Does a BRCA change mean someone has cancer? No. It indicates increased risk, not a diagnosis. NCI notes that a positive test result cannot tell whether or when a person will develop cancer, and some carriers never develop cancer.

Should everyone get tested? NCI notes that expert groups recommend focusing testing on people more likely to carry a harmful change — for example, those with a close relative who carries one, or a personal or family history of certain cancers. Genetic counseling helps people decide whether testing is right for them and understand what results mean.

What options exist for people at high risk? NCI describes several: enhanced screening (such as starting breast screening younger and adding MRI), risk-reducing surgery, and risk-reducing medications. Each has benefits and possible downsides, and the right choice is personal and made with a care team.

Awareness and prevention

NCI emphasizes that decisions about testing and prevention should be individualized and made with a genetic counselor or healthcare professional who knows a person's full history. For those who learn they carry a harmful BRCA change, options include closer screening, risk-reducing surgery, and, in some cases, medications — and NCI is clear that a positive result does not automatically require surgery. Sharing results with blood relatives can also help them understand their own risk.

Turning a story into something useful

A public prevention story can open the door to a valuable conversation about family history and risk. Learning what BRCA changes are, understanding that testing is focused and voluntary, and talking with a healthcare team or genetic counselor are calm, practical steps. Supporting free, trustworthy cancer education helps make this information available to more people.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• Does my personal or family history suggest that genetic counseling would be worthwhile?
• What would a positive, negative, or uncertain test result mean for me?
• If I were found to carry a BRCA change, what screening or prevention options would apply?
• How might my results matter for my relatives?