Medical Professionals Praise Angelina Jolie's Decision to Write About Her Medical Diagnosis

Angelina Jolie opened up about her brave choice to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes following a cancer scare in a New York Times op-ed, and medical professionals are praising the actress for sharing her story.

The 39-year-old actress and director is helping to “illustrate the enormous influence that really famous people can have,” Richard Wender, chief cancer-control officer for the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, told USA Today. Richard noted that cancer screening numbers have risen since Angelina published her first essay about her double mastectomy two years ago.

“This puts a very positive spin on the genetic testing-and-results arena,” Susan Boobol, chief of breast surgery at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York, told the publication. “Because her message, which should be everyone’s message, is this is my personal choice, it’s not the right choice for everyone but we should all be aware of our options. Knowledge is power, that’s what I say to my patients every day.”

See a gallery of photos of the gorgeous Angelina Jolie below…