With same genetic test results 1-in-2 women would follow Jolie

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 17 (UPI) -- One-in-2 U.S. women say if genetic tests suggested a high risk of breast cancer they would follow Angelina Jolie and get a double mastectomy, a survey says.

A YouGov poll also found 51 percent of Americans 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 50 percent of men and 51 percent of women.

Tuesday, Jolie announced in an op-ed published in The New York Times entitled "My Medical Choice" she had undergone a double mastectomy as a preventive measure against breast cancer. Jolie said doctors estimated she "had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer" due to the gene BRCA1, which increases cancer risk.

Asked if they would have genetic tests to screen for susceptibility towards particular types of cancer, 34 percent of U.S. adults said they would.

However, 41 percent of those who had a family history of cancer said they would get genetic testing, while 28 percent without a family history of cancer said they would get the genetic testing.

Four percent of U.S. adults said they have already taken a genetic screening test.

A survey in Britain showed 70 percent of adults would undergo preventive surgery to reduce the likelihood of developing cancer.

No survey details were provided.