Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt with their six children - who Jolie says influenced her operation decision

Jolie had three months of medical procedures, including having her breasts surgically reconstructed, and detailed the operations she underwent earlier this year.

"I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made."

She told of how her children now "don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer" and how she felt lucky to have "loving and supportive" partner Brad Pitt.

"Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has."

British breast cancer campaigner Wendy Watson praised Jolie as a "brave lady, who will be an inspiration to many."

Watson underwent a double mastectomy in 1996, when little was known about hereditary breast cancer and doctors were reluctant to perform the procedure.

Since then, she has overseen The National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline since her own operation, to provide support to patients and their families.

Words: Anna Pollitt. Images: Rex Features

Angelina Jolie: My double mastectomy