Brad Pitt's Mother 'Saved Angelina's Life'

2 June 2013

Angelina Jolie and Jane Pitt

Brad Pitt's mother "saved" Angelina Jolie's life by convincing her to take the test that led to her preventative double mastectomy.

Jane Pitt was influential in the 37-year-old star's decision to take the test, which led to her finding out she carried the BRCA1 cancer gene, which gave her an 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer, by encouraging Angelina to do what was best for her kids.

An insider told the National Enquirer: "Basically, Brad's mom helped save Angie's life. When Angie told Jane that she was considering having genetic testing, Jane said to do whatever she thought was best for the children's sake.

"That was all Angie had to hear. She made a decision right then and there to have it done!"

Jane had the heartfelt conversation with Angelina - who has six children, Maddox, 11, Pax, nine, Zahara, eight, Shiloh, six, and four-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, with husband Brad - while she was holidaying with her husband Bill and their family at Christmas last year.

The group were staying at fashion designer Donna Karan's luxury abode on Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and while Jane is remaining tight-lipped about the specific details of the conversation, she is "very glad" Angelina - whose mother Marcheline died of ovarian cancer at 56 - had the test done.

She said: "I absolutely cannot tell you what Angie and I discussed on the Turks and Caicos at Christmas. That's private. I can only say we are very glad she had this done.

"We think it's a very good decision for the kids, for her, for the family. We are very happy that we feel now that she can live stress-free."