But Welch writes that “99 percent of women do not have the BRCA1 mutation,” and that he hopes Jolie’s decision does not influence women with less risk to undergo the operation.
“Patients with severe abnormalities stand to gain more from intervention than patients with mild ones,” writes Welch. “Patients with mild abnormalities are more likely to experience net harm from intervention, simply because they have less opportunity to benefit.”
Read the full story, published 5/18/13 by CNN.