Angelina Jolie reveals her second preventative surgery

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has undergone a second preventative surgery, the removal of her ovaries and fallopian tubes, to protect herself from ovarian cancer.

Writing an op-ed piece for the New York Times, which was published on Tuesday afternoon AEDT, the mother of six shared she had undergone the second surgery, which essentially means early menopause.

Two years ago she revealed she had undergone a preventative double mastectomy after discovering she carried a mutation in the BRCA1 gene, which increased her risk of breast cancer by 87% and her risk of ovarian cancer by 50%. The revelation sparked what was called the ‘Angelina Jolie effect’, where breast cancer clinics saw referrals almost double after she shared the news of her surgery.

More: Ovarian cancer unnecessarily kills Australian women, experts say

“I promised to follow up with any information that could be useful, including about my next preventative surgery,” Jolie, 39, wrote in this latest op-ed piece. While blood test results revealed normal levels of one protein, there were a number of inflammatory markers that indicated potential early cancer.

“I went through what I imagine thousands of other women have felt,” she wrote. “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.” That same day she went to see the same doctor that had treated her mother.

After a CT scan revealed there was no apparent tumour, there was still a chance of early stage cancer “To my relief, I still had the option of removing my ovaries and fallopian tubes and I chose to do it,” she said.

More: Five facts you should know about ovarian cancer

While this was the decision Jolie came to, she stresses that there are other options to surgery. “There is more than one way to deal with a health issue. The most important thing is to learn about the options and choose what is right for you personally.”

Just last week Jolie had the procedure: “a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. There was a small benign tumour on one ovary, but no signs of cancer in any of the tissues.” She now wears a clear patch that delivers bio identical oestrogen to her body and a progesterone IUD inserted in her uterus which along with being a hormone replacement, will protect Jolie from uterine cancer.

While this last procedure will reduce Jolie’s risk, she still remains “prone to cancer. I will look for natural ways to strengthen my immune system. I feel feminine, and grounded in the choices I am making for myself and my family.”

The message she wants to share? “It is possible to take control and tackle head-on any health issue. You can seek advice, learn about the options and make the choices that are right for you. Knowledge is power.”

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