Angelina Jolie undergoes double mastectomy

Hollywood A-lister Angelina Jolie has revealed in an open letter to The New York Times that she has had a preventive double mastectomy.

In an op-ed piece titled 'My Medical Choice' the actress writes about her mother who died at 56 from cancer.

"She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms, but my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was," Jolie wrote.

She also opens up about how her children ask whether the same disease will take her one day.

"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."

She revealed that she has a 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of suffering ovarian cancer.

Jolie said she completed three months of procedures on April 27, and keep news of her surgery private.

She said she chose to publish her experience today so that 'other women can benefit.'

"Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness, but today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action."

Ms Jolie said it was the right thing to do for her family, and she thanked her actor partner, Brad Pitt, for his support.

It was confirmed yesterday that Pitt will be heading Down Under next month for the Australian premier of the zombie movie, World War Z.