7 in 10 women would do same as Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie has breasts removed. Almost seven out of every ten women say they would undergo a preventive double mastectomy if tests indicated they were at a high risk of breast cancer 

A new YouGov poll finds that nearly seven in 10 women in Britain would have a double mastectomy if genetic tests suggested they had a very high chance of developing breast cancer.

On Tuesday, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie announced in a widely reported editorial for the New York Times titled “My Medical Choice” that she had undergone a double mastectomy as a preventive measure against breast cancer. Jolie said that doctors estimated that she “had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer” due to a “faulty” gene, BRCA1, which increases cancer risk.

68% of women say they would have all natural breast tissue removed and replaced with implants if genetic tests suggested a very high probability of developing breast cancer.

The YouGov survey also found that in identical proportions British women and men would undergo preventive surgery if tests suggested they were at a very high risk of a particular cancer. 70% of Britons say they would in principle undergo surgery to prevent the development of a cancer if tests suggested there was a very high chance of it developing, including 70% of men and 70% of women.

Asked if they would have genetic tests to screen for susceptibility towards particular types of cancer, and 64% of British adults say they would, including 62% of women and 66% of men.

One in five (21%) worry that there is a type of cancer they are particularly susceptible to because of family medical history.

The Wanted Announce their First Single of 2013 ‘Walks Like Rihanna’

thewantedreleasenewsingleReleased June 23rd

One of the biggest pop acts in the world, The Wanted, have announced details of their first single of 2013. ‘Walks Like Rihanna’ is to be released in the UK on June 23rd. The new track was co-written and produced by the legendary Dr Luke who has previously worked with the likes of Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Pink and Britney Spears.

‘Walks Like Rihanna’ is a pure pop summer anthem, on the song Tom Parker said,

“We are really excited about this single. We feel it’s a little different from the usual Wanted sound, we’ve stripped it back to pure pop, it’s just a feel good, fun track. Fun is a good word to describe the video too. Let’s just say it’s got a lot of character.”

The video for ‘Walks Like Rihanna’ takes a tongue in cheek look at what being in a boy band is all about, in the undeniable style of The Wanted. It was shot in LA and will be released on Tuesday 7th May.

Subscribers to The Wanted Wanted World, the Wanted online fan club, will be able to access an exclusive first listen to a section of the new track from 10am on Friday 26th April.

The single includes vocals from Nathan Sykes who under went specialist surgery to correct a hemorrhaging vocal cord in Los Angeles in mid April. The surgery went as planned however it is still uncertain when Nathan will be re-joining the band.

2013 has been an exceptionally busy year already for The Wanted. It began with them scooping The People’s Choice Award for Favorite Breakout Artist, beating off competition from Fun, Gotye, Carly Rae Jepson and One Direction.

The band have been filming a TV show in the US for E! titled, ‘The Wanted Life’, the show will air in the US on June 2nd with UK and international transmission dates to be confirmed shortly. They have also been in the studio working on their forthcoming album which will be released globally later this year.

The Wanted will be performing shows and completing major promotion across the globe this year from Australia, Japan and Europe. UK dates include The Capital FM Summertime Ball on June 9th, Chester Rocks and North East Live. A full list of tour dates can be found here.

Fans will be able to pre-order ‘Walks Like Rihanna’ from iTunes on Tuesday 7th May. The first play of the single will be on Monday 29th April across UK radio.

NHS 'Letting Patients Die to Save Cash' Says Official Report

A report by the Co-operation and Competition Panel (CCP), an independent watchdog that advises the NHS, claims that NHS managers are deliberately delaying operations, hoping that patients will die or go private in a ‘callous’ attempt to cut their budgets.

The report says that health service trusts will be ‘likely to impose greater pain and inconvenience’ by making those in need of care wait longer than necessary for surgery, the official report found.

By making patients wait for as long as four months, it is hoped they will remove themselves form the list ‘either by dying or by paying for their own treatment’.

NHS bosses are having to make £20billion of savings by 2014. The panel’s report claims unfair practices are ‘endemic’ in areas of England.

CCP chairman Lord Carter of Coles said: ‘Commissioners have a difficult job in the current financial climate, but patients’ rights are often being restricted without a valid and visible reason.’ 

Katherine Murphy, of independent charity the Patients Association, said: ‘It is outrageous that some primary care trusts are imposing minimum waiting times.

‘The suggestion that it could save money because patients will remove themselves from the list by going private or dying is a callous and cynical manipulation of people’s lives and should not be tolerated.’ 

The Health Secretary, Andrew Lansely has spoken out and accused NHS managers of risking lives by making patients wait longer for treatment in a ‘cynical’ bid to save money. Lansley said the report showed why the NHS needed to be reformed.

‘This is exactly why we need to put patients’ interests first,’ he said. ‘Too many primary care trusts have been operating in a cynical environment where they can game the system – and in which political targets, particularly the maximum 18-week waiting time target, are used to actually delay treatment.

Care services minister Paul Burstow said: ‘This report illustrates exactly why we need to modernise the NHS and increase choice for patients.’