Don’t look for breast cancer survivor Melissa Etheridge to be joining the chorus of support for Angelina Jolie’s decision to have a double mastectomy as a preventive measure.
Etheridge, who says she carries the same cancer-causing gene as Jolie, calls the actress’s move a “fearful decision” in an interview with the Washington Blade.
Responding to the Blade reporter’s inquiry as to her thoughts on Jolie’s announcement, Etheridge says, “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.”
Etheridge continues, “My belief is that cancer comes from inside you and so much of it has to do with the environment of your body. It’s the stress that will turn that gene on or not. Plenty of people have the gene mutation and everything but it never comes to cancer so I would say to anybody faced with that, that choice is way down the line on the spectrum of what you can do and to really consider the advancements we’ve made in things like nutrition and stress levels. I’ve been cancer free for nine years now and looking back, I completely understand why I got cancer. There was so much acidity in everything. I really encourage people to go a lot longer and further before coming to that conclusion.” In her treatment for breast cancer, Etheridge underwent a lumpectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Also in the interview, Etheridge notes that she “finally got it right” in her relationship with Linda Wallem, which she calls “a grown-up relationship,” and discusses plans for releasing a boxed set of her music, including some rarities, in November. Read more here.
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