Two years ago Angelina Jolie made headlines for having a double mastectomy after finding out she had a mutation in her BRCA1 gene. Simply put, she had a gene that gave her an estimated 87% risk of breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian cancer. This past month Angelina Jolie went through another surgery, this time to get her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.
After the mastectomy she kept putting off getting her ovaries removed, but when she went in for a yearly ovary scan and blood test she found out, according to the piece she wrote for the New York Times, “There are a number of inflammatory markers that are elevated, and taken together they could be a sign of early cancer”.
Being told she may have cancer, she stated, “I went through what I imagine thousands of other women have felt. I told myself to stay calm, to be strong, and that I had no reason to think I wouldn’t live to see my children grow up and to meet my grandchildren.” She then went to a surgeon who found nothing concerning with her ovaries and her tumor tests were negative, but there was still a chance she could have an early stage. Jolie then bravely made the decision to remove her ovaries.
“The beautiful thing about such moments in life is that there is so much clarity,” Jolie said, “You know what you live for and what matters.”
Thousands of women are diagnosed with cancer every year and A-list stars are not immune. Jolie had previously lost her mother, grandmother, and aunt to cancer, so she was determined not to be defeated. Jolie was able to make these decisions because she got yearly blood tests to monitor ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is hard to treat unless it is caught early. Cancer can either be hormonal or genetic. If people have a history of cancer in the family it is important to find out whether or not they have the gene.
Jolie encourages women to know the importance of being educated. It is extremely essential to be aware of your family’s medical history. If one has the gene, getting regular tests could save your life, like it saved hers.
Some people have showed criticism that this was an aggressive decision. Getting your ovaries removed is not a hard procedure, but as a result you are forced into menopause. Luckily for Jolie she already has children and the surgeon did suggest that this would be her best option.
Jolie does address other options though that may better for other women. Having the ovarian cancer does not automatically mean you have to have the surgery to have them removed.
She encourages women to get educated by their doctors about all options and find the best ones for their own situations.
At the end of her article in the New York Times she states, “Knowledge is power”. Women have to be aware of what is happening in their own bodies and face these problems head on, even if they are scary. Mammograms and doctors may freak you out, but they could save your life. Instead of being scared about the procedure for selfish reasons, she thought of the others in her life, like her husband and children, who make life worth it. “I feel feminine, and grounded in the choices I am making for my family and myself. I know my children will never have to say, ‘Mom died of ovarian cancer.’” Jolie said.
Jolie’s message is significant because not only did she have the courage to do this, she is also sharing her story with the world to inform and inspire. Hopefully, women will look to her as an example of courage. Cancer is a frightening topic, but it is not something that should be ignored and Jolie reminds us of this. Get tested regularly and encourage friends and family to do the same.