'If Angelina Can do it, So can I'

‘Two weeks before my sister Linda died from ovarian cancer, she had a blood test to find out whether she carried a faulty BRCA1 gene.

Mum-of-three Arlette Rowe, 52, from West Sussex, was inspired by the Hollywood star.

But, when she died, I didn’t do anything with it – I was too scared to find out the result.

Due to our family history of cancer, I knew that if she tested positive, I would have to get tested, too – and I couldn’t pluck up the courage to do it.

It wasn’t until four years later, when Angelina Jolie spoke about her own situation, that I decided I should finally find out Linda’s results.