Referrals for genetic breast cancer tests more than doubled in the UK as a result of what doctors have dubbed the “Angelina effect”. In May last 2013, actress Angelina Jolie revealed to the world that she had undergone a double mastectomy to prevent her getting breast cancer. She took the decision after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation that greatly increases the risk of developing the disease. A new study has now measured the impact her surprise announcement made on women in the UK.
