Two years ago, Angelina Jolie tested positive for the BRCA1 gene and she opted to have a double mastectomy, so that she wouldn’t get breast cancer. She knew that at some point, she would also have to get her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed. In an op-ed to
The New York Times, she decided to wait to have the latter that done. It’s an easier procedure physically, but a tougher one emotionally. When a woman gets that done, it forces her into early menopause and she also loses the ability to ever give birth again.
Then two weeks ago, she got a call that pushed up her procedure. Her blood tests came back showing she might be in the early stages of ovarian cancer. She flew to the doctor who took care of her mom and got the procedure done.
She was able to keep her uterus because Uterian cancer does not run in her family.
She came forward with her prevention surgeries so other women can know what she went through and know they are not alone. She also wants to let them know there are other options that a woman can choose from if they have to make that choice. They need to ask their doctors what those options are.
Men and women should read her
NYT Op-Ed because it is something everyone should know about. It is written from a real person’s view and not a medical one. We are people and not doctors, and sometimes we need to hear from someone who is going through it and not someone who was taught about it. Not that doctors are bad, it just helps to hear from someone who has been through it.
