angel in the north

My grandma died of breast cancer in the mid 90s when she was 76 and I was 18.

She was the only grandparent I knew, the others all lost their lives before I was born or when I was tiny.

She was too young to go. I was too young really to have stopped being self-absorbed and properly appreciated having her. I’ve since realised the things she did for us, how special it was that we painted together, how I’ve inherited her talent and love of dancing.

There’s much said about female cancers being hereditary, and Angelina Jolie’s piece in the New York Times has brought it all right to the forefront.

(image: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.com via Guardian)

Thankfully my mum is currently very healthy but I do worry if cancer, this cruel disease, will take her too soon or if it will shorten my life.

Jolie had a test which found she had a faulty gene, putting her at 87 per cent risk of developing breast cancer and 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer.

On average, those with a defect like Jolie’s have a 65 per cent chance of getting breast cancer. Only some breast cancers result from an inherited gene mutation.

There’s a lot of talk about Jolie’s bravery and I won’t dispute that. She is doing a vital job in raising awareness of the hereditary nature of some cancers and the possibility of genetic testing. In how much she gives back to the world, philanthropic Jolie stands head and shoulders above most of Hollywood.

But I feel a slight unease, as I did when Jade Goody was fighting cervical cancer. Goody also played a vital role in raising awareness and encouraging women to have smear tests. But my unease is because, overnight, an issue suddenly becomes so much more pressing and paramount simply because a famous person is affected.

After Jolie’s article, my Twitter feed quickly filled with #journorequests for women who had chosen a preventive double mastectomy. Why are those women so much more important and interesting today than they were last week?

Courageous as Jolie is, as is any woman opting for such a procedure and the lengthy period of surgery she had to endure, few would have taken a different decision when faced with those alarming odds. Now her chances of developing breast cancer have dropped to under 5 per cent and her children are far less likely to have to grow up without a mother.

As Jolie put it: “Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.”

Famous people are not any braver than the many women up and down the country who are battling cancer every single day, who are scared but showing strength, who are making difficult, life-changing decisions and dealing with the impact of a diagnosis on their income, relationships, families, plans and dreams.

In certain ways, cancer may be easier to deal with for people in a position of privilege. Jolie acknowledges that even having a test is out of the question for many women in America because of the $3,000 cost.

In the UK, you can have a genetic test on the NHS if you have a strong family history – two or three close female relatives – of breast cancer. There’s probably somewhere you can pay for a test if you have at least a few hundred quid to spare.

As a woman your chances of developing breast cancer are, unfortunately, worryingly high, even without a faulty gene. Out of every 100 women 10 will develop breast cancer by the time they are 80.

Cancer charities are always top of my donation list because although we’ve come a long way in understanding and care, we still need more research into causes, symptoms and treatment.

So let’s praise strong women like Jolie but not forget the women closer to home who are fighting their own battle or supporting someone who is.

Let’s all keep doing our bit, whether you take part in the Race for Life, have a few quid going to a charity from your bank account every month or wear a pink ribbon or a T-shirt.

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer is great way to support the cause. Now in its 17th year, the campaign raises money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. You just buy a piece from your favourite high street store – Topshop, Warehouse and River Island are among those taking part – and at least 30% goes to the charity. Browse the lookbook or click below to shop.