Angelina Jolie loses aunt to breast cancer

By Mariam Digges

Angelina Jolie loses aunt to breast cancer
Just weeks after announcing her preventative double mastectomy, Angelina Jolie’s aunt has lost her battle with breast cancer, aged 61.

Another sad loss for the Jolie family occurred over the weekend, with news emerging that her aunt Debbie Martin has passed away at Palomar Hospital in California, having undergone extensive treatment for breast cancer.

According to Debbie’s husband Ron Martin, Jolie, her brother James Haven and actor dad Jon Voight spent much time with her in her final days.

“Angelina has been in touch throughout the week and her brother Jamie has been with us, giving his support day by day,” Martin told E! News. “They both loved Debbie very much and although Angie is not able to come right now she has sent her love and support which was very nice.”

“We have seen Angelina a number of times since Debbie was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Ron continued, “And Debbie and I were both very proud of her recent decision to have the double mastectomy and to do everything she can to keep her family from having to go through what we’ve been through.”

Debbie was the younger sister of Jolie’s mother, actress Marcheline Bertrand, who died of ovarian cancer in 2007, aged 56. Marcheline also battled breast cancer.  Angelina’s maternal grandmother, Lois, was also diagnosed with ovarian cancer as and lost her battle with the illness at 45. It was these female figures in her family that contributed to the actress’s decision to go under the knife.

The news comes just weeks after the mother of six underwent a controversial double mastectomy after learning that she carried the abnormal BRCA1 gene mutation, which gave her an 87 per cent risk of developing breast cancer. Read more about Angelina’s decision here.

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