Angelina Jolie Pitt Undergoes Surgery to Remove Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes

Angelina Jolie Pitt, the renowned actress and filmmaker, has recently revealed that she underwent surgery last week to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes.

This comes two years after she publicly shared her decision to have a preventive double mastectomy to reduce her risk of bre-st cancer.

In an opinion piece published in The New York Times, Jolie explained that she carries the BRCA1 genetic mutation, which puts her at a high risk for both bre-st and ovarian cancer.

Jolie's choice to undergo surgery was influenced by the fact that three women in her family had lost their lives to cancer, in addition to her own genetic predisposition.

As per her doctors' advice, she opted for preventive surgery about ten years prior to the age at which cancer typically develops in her female relatives.

Jolie's mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 49, while she is currently 39 years old.

The procedure she underwent is known as a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

Dr. Elizabeth Swisher, the medical director of the bre-st and Ovarian Cancer Prevention Program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's treatment arm, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, praised Jolie's decision, stating that it could potentially save her life.

Women with the BRCA mutation have a significantly higher lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to those without the mutation.

While the average risk stands at 1.8%, women with the BRCA mutation face a risk between 40% and 50%.

Unfortunately, early detection methods for ovarian cancer are inadequate, making it a highly deadly disease.

Studies have shown that taking prophylactic measures, such as removing the ovaries and fallopian tubes, can effectively reduce the risk of both bre-st and ovarian cancer.

Dr. Swisher explains that these surgeries bring about hormonal changes that not only decrease the chances of ovarian cancer but also reduce the risk of bre-st cancer.

Moreover, they significantly lower mortality rates associated with these cancers.

The data suggests that women with the BRCA mutation can extend their lifespan by opting for preventive surgery, in addition to improving their overall quality of life by avoiding the burden of cancer treatment.

Angelina Jolie Pitt's courage in sharing her personal journey and medical decisions has raised awareness about the options available to individuals