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It's World Ovarian Cancer Day and Angelina Jolie is not only remembering her beautiful mother, Marcheline Bertrand, but also reminding us all to keep up-to-date with our health checks.
The actor, director and humanitarian has taken to Instagram to reflect on her late mum's devastating cancer diagnosis more than two decades ago. Sharing a polaroid of herself as a young girl with Marcheline, Angelina writes:
"Tomorrow would have been my mother's 73rd birthday. She passed away 15 years ago, after a long struggle with breast and ovarian cancer. In June, I will be a month away from the age when she was diagnosed. I have had preventive surgeries to try to lessen chances but I continue to have check ups."
Her message continues, "My mom loved [Jimi] Hendrix. And would always sign her letters Kiss the Sky. It took on new meaning after she passed. Sending my love to those who have also lost loved ones and strength to those who are fighting at this very moment for their lives and the lives of those they love."
Angelina ends her post hoping we all prioritise our health: "And to other women, please take the time to look after yourself and go for your mammograms and blood tests or ultrasounds, particularly if you have a family history of cancer."
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In 2013, Angelina penned an essay for the New York Times where she opened up about her own preventive surgeries - a double mastectomy and the removal of her ovaries and Fallopian tubes - in the hope of being around longer for her children:
"We often speak of 'Mommy's mommy' and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us," Angelina writes of her mother who passed away on January 27, 2007.
"They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a 'faulty' gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer."
So ladies, let's do this. Have you booked in your appointment yet?
(Feature Image Credit: Fred Duval/Shutterstock.com)
