Jolie sparks big rise in cancer inquiries
AAP June 18, 2013, 9:45 am
They are calling it the `Angelina effect' - the massive increase in the number of women ringing helplines for advice on breast cancer.
Cancer Council Victoria says there has been a massive 1033 (1033) per cent increase in the number of calls its helpline is receiving following the decision by Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie to undergo a double mastectomy.
In response, the Cancer Council is hosting an hour-long free national webinair on June 25 from 7.30pm dealing with breast cancer in the family.
Guest speaker Mary-Anne Young, Senior Genetic Counsellor at the Peter McCallum Familial Cancer Centre, said providing women with a forum to ask questions and access information was invaluable.
"We hope this webinair will reduce unnecessary anxiety we have seen in patients since Ms Jolie's announcement and provide women with the resources of where to go next if genetic testing is an option," she said.
