Angelina Jolie Pitt has revealed she has undergone surgery to remove her ovaries and Fallopian tubes after possible early signs of cancer were detected.
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The 39-year-old actress, who underwent a double mastectomy in 2013, has been forced into menopause and won’t be able to have any more children after undergoing the preventative surgery.
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Angelina Jolie
Writing in New York Times magazine, the mum-of-six explained she wanted to take action now after losing her mother to the disease when she was 49 years old.
"Two weeks ago I got a call from my doctor with blood-test results,” she wrote.
“‘Your CA-125 is normal,’ he said. I breathed a sigh of relief. That test measures the amount of the protein CA-125 in the blood, and is used to monitor ovarian cancer. I have it every year because of my family history.
"But that wasn’t all. He went on. ‘There are a number of inflammatory markers that are elevated, and taken together they could be a sign of early cancer.’ I took a pause. ‘CA-125 has a 50 to 75 percent chance of missing ovarian cancer at early stages,’ he said.
"He wanted me to see the surgeon immediately to check my ovaries.
"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.”
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Angelina Jolie with her husband Brad Pitt
After phoning her husband Brad Pitt, who was in France at the time she got the diagnosis, the ‘Maleficent’ star underwent the procedure, a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
"I called my husband in France, who was on a plane within hours,” she said.
“The beautiful thing about such moments in life is that there is so much clarity. You know what you live for and what matters. It is polarizing, and it is peaceful.
"That same day I went to see the surgeon, who had treated my mother. I last saw her the day my mother passed away, and she teared up when she saw me: ‘You look just like her.’ I broke down. But we smiled at each other and agreed we were there to deal with any problem, so ‘let’s get on with it’.”
Following the op, Angelina says that her six children won't be able to say their mother died of ovarian cancer.
“I feel feminine, and grounded in the choices I am making for myself and my family,” she added. “I know my children will never have to say, ‘Mom died of ovarian cancer.’”
READ MORE:
- The 'Angelina Jolie Effect': Mastectomy Revelation Doubled Breast Gene Test Referrals
- Angelina Jolie Has Double Mastectomy To Prevent Breast Cancer Risk
The 39-year-old actress, who underwent a double mastectomy in 2013, has been forced into menopause and won’t be able to have any more children after undergoing the preventative surgery.
Writing in New York Times magazine, the mum-of-six explained she wanted to take action now after losing her mother to the disease when she was 49 years old.
"Two weeks ago I got a call from my doctor with blood-test results,” she wrote.
“‘Your CA-125 is normal,’ he said. I breathed a sigh of relief. That test measures the amount of the protein CA-125 in the blood, and is used to monitor ovarian cancer. I have it every year because of my family history.
"But that wasn’t all. He went on. ‘There are a number of inflammatory markers that are elevated, and taken together they could be a sign of early cancer.’ I took a pause. ‘CA-125 has a 50 to 75 percent chance of missing ovarian cancer at early stages,’ he said.
"He wanted me to see the surgeon immediately to check my ovaries.
"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.”
After phoning her husband Brad Pitt, who was in France at the time she got the diagnosis, the ‘Maleficent’ star underwent the procedure, a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
"I called my husband in France, who was on a plane within hours,” she said.
“The beautiful thing about such moments in life is that there is so much clarity. You know what you live for and what matters. It is polarizing, and it is peaceful.
"That same day I went to see the surgeon, who had treated my mother. I last saw her the day my mother passed away, and she teared up when she saw me: ‘You look just like her.’ I broke down. But we smiled at each other and agreed we were there to deal with any problem, so ‘let’s get on with it’.”
Following the op, Angelina says that her six children won't be able to say their mother died of ovarian cancer.
“I feel feminine, and grounded in the choices I am making for myself and my family,” she added. “I know my children will never have to say, ‘Mom died of ovarian cancer.’”
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