Before Angelina: Portraits of Breast Cancer Previvors and Survivors

Original story from TIME, 10/28/13

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, TIME photographed 15 women who chose to have preventative double mastectomies after learning they carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, years before Angelina Jolie’s New York Times Op-ed renewed the conversation about the genetic risk factors and surgical decisions. These mutations can increase the risk of breast cancer by up to 80% and the risk of ovarian cancer by 45%, which prompts many women to decide to remove their breasts even before any signs of cancer. Those who test positive for the mutations also have a 50% chance of passing the gene to their children. Here are their stories.