Two yearsafter having a double mastectomy to prevent the onset of breast cancer, Angelina Jolie has revealed that she underwent surgery last week to have her ovaries removed after tests revealed she had "anumber" of elevated inflammatory markers that could be a sign of earlycancer.
Angelina Jolie has undergone surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes Photo: Getty Images
The39-year-old published an opinion piece on Monday in the New York Times titled "Angelina Jolie Pitt: Diary Of A Surgery," in which she thoroughly explains herdecision to have the surgery despite sending her into early menopause.
"I had been planning this for some time," she wrote." I did not do this solely because I carry the BRCA1 gene mutation, and Iwant other women to hear this. In my case, the Eastern and Western doctors Imet agreed that surgery to remove my tubes and ovaries was the best option,because on top of the BRCA gene, three women in my family have died fromcancer."
The UN envoy, pictured in Iraq, shared her journey in the New York Times Photo: Getty Images
Angelina hadplans to go through with the surgery at a later date, but after receiving acall from her doctor two weeks ago, the procedure became more urgent. Bloodtests showed irregularities connected to the protein CA-125 that is used tomonitor ovarian cancer. While further tests showed she was still cancer-free,the award-winning actress still chose to have her ovaries and fallopian tubesremoved as a preventative measure. She chose to keep her uterus because thereis no history of uterine cancer in her family.
Angelina's mother died of cancer, prompting the actress to get tested photo: Getty Images
According to BBC Health Editor Michelle Roberts, "Taking these preventative stepsgreatly decreases her risk of cancer but 'the surgery does not completelyguarantee that cancer will not develop - it is impossible to remove all of theat-risk tissue."
Brad and Angelina married just 7 months ago Photo: Getty Images
At the time ofthe news, her husband Brad Pitt was in France, prompting him to fly home withinhours to support his wife who had already lost her mother, grandmother and auntto cancer.
Angelina admits she will not be able to have any more biological children Photo: Getty Images
After havingthe surgery, the mother-of-six says she will not be able to have any morechildren. "I feel deeply for women for whomthis moment comes very early in life, before they have had their children.Their situation is far harder than mine," the Unbroken director wrote."I know my children will never have to say, 'Mom died of ovarian cancer.'"
