Melissa Etheridge Says Jolie's Decision to Undergo Preventative Surgery Was Not a "Brave" One

By SheSpeaksTeam Jun 23, 2013

Though many applauded Angelina Jolie’s decision to have a preventative double mastectomy, even calling her brave for taking such measures there is at least one person who does not feel the actress’s decision was a brave one. Jolie spoke out recently explaining how she received news that she carries the cancer gene known as BRCA-1 and had an 87% chance of developing breast cancer. She then made what many consider a brave decision to go ahead with the double mastectomy on her then healthy breast tissue.

Since the surgery and public support of Jolie’s decision, singer and cancer survivor Melissa Etheridge has come forward saying she believes the choice Jolie made was “fearful” rather than brave. She later spoke out on the Today show saying, “I don’t have any opinion on what she ‘should have’ done- all are free to choose. I only objected to the term 'brave' describing it.”

Etheridge herself carries the BRCA-1 gene and battled breast cancer in 2005 but still believes a preventative double mastectomy would not be her personal choice. She was quoted in the Washington Blade explaining, “I have to say I feel a little differently. I have that gene mutation too and it's not something I would believe in for myself. I wouldn't call it the brave choice. I actually think it's the most fearful choice you can make when confronting anything with cancer.”

What do you think of Etheridge’s comments about the public calling Jolie’s decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy brave?

Do you think Angelina Jolie’s decision was an act of bravery or “fearful” as Etheridge put it?