I know I am not alone in wishing that there were as much attention paid to afflictions like breast cancer - including the male variety - and other forms of cancer as is paid to HIV/AIDS and I think it is wonderful that Jolie wrote about her situation. As a journalist and editor, I have consistently found myself blocked when making this point in the past at editorial meetings because "cancer scares people" or, and I kid you not, "it's another c-word and we don't want to turn readers off...".
Not that focusing on HIV is a bad thing in terms of raising money for medical research but unless you are unlucky enough to contract it from blood transfusions, dirty needles or an infected parent, there are simple preventative measures that greatly reduce the risks whereas cancer can and does strike people who live the healthiest of lifestyles.
I know this might seem judgemental in tone but it really isn't intended to be. Truth can be harsh, which is why so many people shy away from it. As far as illnesses like cancer and HIV are concerned, as long as there is no cure, the medical trade will make shiploads of money selling expensive drugs and treatments that certainly prolong life in many cases - when was the last time someone you know in the developed world, in your social circles, actually died of AIDS? - but Jolie seems to have decided to opt out of that game by her actions, which are probably disturbing to a lot of people. But she doesn't come across as a nutter so she is probably very, very brave.
