Angelina Jolie Undergoes Further Preventive Surgery

http://media.boston.cbslocal.com/CBSBOS_2403201517211800000AA.mp4 BOSTON (CBS) – A difficult and courageous decision from Angelina Jolie. The actress just announced she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in an effort to decrease her chance of developing the disease that killed her mother. Two years ago, the Oscar winner underwent a double mastectomy to avoid breast cancer. Jolie carries a gene mutation making her more likely to get both breast and ovarian cancer. Since her first announcement the rates of genetic testing have increased around the world and that means more women are facing these difficult choices. The mutation that Jolie and many others carry is the BRCA1 gene, and it means a dramatically higher than normal chance of developing breast and ovarian cancer. With the removal of her healthy breasts two years ago her risk of that cancer decreased by more than 90%. Her recent surgery should lower her chance of ovarian cancer by the same amount. “It’s very difficult to detect ovarian cancer early, and she didn’t want to wait,” says Dr. Judy Garber, the head of the Center for Cancer Genetics and Prevention at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She says for women with the gene and a family history like Jolie, surgery can be the right decision. “You leave behind a very tiny risk, and we tell women they have to be comfortable that this is the most they can do,” says Dr. Garber. Jolie made her anno...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Entertainment Health Local News Syndicated Local Angelina Jolie BRCA1 Cancer Dana Farber Cancer Institute ovarian cancer Source Type: news