The "Angelina effect" is said to be to thank for the rapid increase in breast cancer referrals. Photo: Brendan Esposito
Referrals to cancer genetic clinics tripled after Angelina Jolie went public with her preventative double mastectomy in May, new research shows.
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre senior genetic counsellor Mary-Anne Young said the high-profile case had prompted women to seek risk assessments and take measures to reduce their chances of developing breast or ovarian cancer.
Ms Young said family cancer centres in Victoria, NSW and South Australia had a combined 90 referrals a week in the six weeks before Ms Jolie's announcement, which doubled and then tripled to a peak of 280 referrals in the weeks after.
She said referrals had since settled at about 190 a week, showing the "Angelina effect" was ongoing.