Questionable Preventative "treatment"

[OnlySunshine]

After hearing about Angelina Jolie's radical bilateral mastectomy after she was tested positive for the BRCA gene, I wonder if this is viewed as allowable by the Church?  Just because someone has the gene, it isn't 100% positive that they will develop cancer - it just means that they are at a higher risk.  I know Angelina is not Catholic but if someone in the Church was to get a preventative mastectomy as well, would it be a mortal sin similar to sterilization or would it be comparable to a legitimate allowable prevention like a hysterectomy?  I remember reading that Angelina was going to have a bilateral oophrectomy as well (removal of the ovaries) due to the same genetic issue.  Her mother died of ovarian cancer in 2007 and also had breast cancer.  Apparently, the women in their family have a high mortality rate because Angelina's grandmother also died of cancer as well as her aunt.

Edited February 19, 2014 by MaterMisericordiae

[CatherineM]

Her chance of getting breast cancer was listed as 87%. Breast cancer also runs in my family. When I tell a new doctor that my mom, aunt, and both great aunts all had it, I'm in for a mammography in about 48 hours. The difference is that my family gets the over age 70, slow growing, everyone survives kind. Her family gets the young, grow fast, kill quick kind. If I was in her boat, and had the money for something the insurance company would probably call elective surgery, I'd have them whacked off so fast.

She did not do this to mutilate herself or to beautify herself. She did this to live long enough to meet her grandchildren. As to removal of her ovaries, again she would not do it to mutilate herself or to prevent pregnancies, but to prevent a potentially life threatening disease.

This falls under the double effect exception. As long as you are taking the action primarily to prevent an illness or treat an illness, you're okay. It's one of those issues that should be discussed with your confessor to make sure you aren't rationalizing away an action.