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A drastic decision

Actress Angelina Jolie revealed in a New York Times op-ed piece that she recently underwent a preventive double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Jolie noted in the piece that she carries the BRCA1 gene that increases a woman's risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died of ovarian cancer in 2007 at 56.

Actress Angelina Jolie revealed in a New York Times op-ed piece that she recently underwent a preventive double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Jolie noted in the piece that she carries the BRCA1 gene that increases a woman’s risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died of ovarian cancer in 2007 at 56.   (Oli Scarff / Getty Images)

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The news of actress Angelina Jolie’s decision to have preventive surgery to decrease her likelihood of cancer struck a personal chord with Los Angeles Times reporter Anna Gorman, who had made the same decision a few years ago. Here, a look back at her story.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie at the 84th Annual Academy Awards in 2012.  (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

Star couple

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the 84th Annual Academy Awards show in 2012.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Pink Lotus Breast Center

Dr. Kristi Funk briefly addresses the media outside the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Beverly Hills, where Angelina Jolie had her double mastectomy. The founder of the clinic said she hopes the star’s decision will save “countless lives” of women with cancer, saying the clinic “applauds Angelina Jolie’s bold choices regarding her BRCA mutation.”   (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images)

Anna and Dr. Beth Karlan

Dr. Beth Karlan, left, director of the Women’s Cancer Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, says, “Your dad is with us, from above,” in pre-op before Anna’s preventive hysterectomy / oophorectomy.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Waiting for surgery

A nervous Anna Gorman waits for her surgery in pre-op at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

No turning back

Anna looks pensive moments before she is taken into surgery for a hysterectomy / oophorectomy at Cedars-Sinai.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Happy family

Back home after surgery, Anna cuddles daughter Sadie, left, and Twyla as husband Coll Metcalfe enjoys the familial scene. The couple planned their marriage and family around the knowledge of Anna’s BRCA1 mutation and plans for the preventive surgery.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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