Angelina Jolie’s Aunt Dies of Breast Cancer at 61

Debbie Martin's death comes just two weeks after the actress announced she had undergone double mastectomy

Angelina Jolie's aunt, Debbie Martin, lost her battle with breast cancer on Sunday. She was 61.

The news comes nearly two weeks after Jolie revealed she had a preventative double mastectomy after learning she had tested positive for the "faulty" BRCA gene.

Martin was hospitalized on Wednesday, her husband Ronald Martin, told E! News.

Also read: Angelina Jolie Double Mastectomy Disclosure Greeted With Flood of Support

Martin is the biological sister of Jolie's mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who died after a seven-year battle with ovarian cancer in 2007.

"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!. "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."

Also read: Angelina Jolie to Remove Ovaries in Next Cancer-Prevention Step

Jolie, 37, explained in a recent New York Times op-ed that she discovered that she an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of getting ovarian cancer. Her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died of ovarian cancer in 2007.

Debbie died at Palomar Hospital in Escondido, Calif. and is survived by her husband Ron and their two sons Chris and Cory Martin.

 

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