Actress Angelina Jolie inspired hundreds of women to take action to protect themselves against breast cancer, according to a new study.
Ms Jolie announced in May 2013 that she would undergo a double mastectomy because she has the BRCA1 breast cancer gene.
This led to the number of women seeking checks from their GPs more than doubling, the researchers said.
According to the study in Breast Cancer Research, the surge in concern about breast cancer brought forward women with genuine cause for concern – because of the disease being in their family.
Researchers from Manchester, UK, said they believed the effects of Ms Jolie’s publicity would be "lasting".
Researcher Professor Gareth Evans, of Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention and St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, said: "Although there was concern that the increase in attendance following Ms Jolie’s announcement might have been from the ‘worried well’ coming back for an early repeat screen, our research found that the opposite was true.
"A higher proportion was from women who were late for their test, rather than those who were coming back early."
He added: "Angelina Jolie stating she has a BRCA1 mutation and going on to have a risk-reducing mastectomy is likely to have had a bigger impact than other celebrity announcements, possibly due to her image as a glamorous and strong woman."
Professor Evans said high-risk women did not always have to undergo mastectomy – as there was also the possibility of using drugs and lifestyle changes to help reduce cancer risk.
The Angelina Jolie effect: How high celebrity profile can have a major impact on provision of cancer related services. Breast Cancer Research 19 September 2014, 16:442
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