Angelina Jolie’s aunt dies of breast cancer, two weeks after star writes about double mastectomy

Angelina Jolie made headlines earlier this month when she penned an article in The New York Times which explained her decision to have a double mastectomy as a preventative measure due to a family history of breast cancer and the fact that a test showed she has the BRCA1 gene mutation, which put her at a higher risk for the disease.

Now, Jolie’s aunt has died of breast cancer.

Debbie Martin, 61, died in a San Diego, California-area hospital on Sunday, according to reports Monday morning.

Martin was the sister of Jolie’s mother, who died from 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’s husband, Ron, 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.”