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24 Mar, 2015

Ovaries removed

HospitalWrites Article4 Comments

Jolie undergoes a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy to have her ovaries removed, after her doctor warns her that she could have cancer. She is entering early menopause and can no longer have children. Describing the process:

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. I called my husband in France, who was on a plane within hours. 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.

Regardless of the hormone replacements I’m taking, I am now in menopause. I will not be able to have any more children, and I expect some physical changes. But I feel at ease with whatever will come, not because I am strong but because this is a part of life. It is nothing to be feared.

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Shelly

I applaud Ms Jolie for going public with her medical issues.

Sabrina

So proud of Angelina Jolie for sharing her experience assessing and managing her breast and ovarian cancer risk in such an empowering manner.

Laurent Dupond

With all due respect to Mrs. Jolie, she should have gotten a second opinion. Numerous very knowledgeable doctors with combined CENTURIES of experience between them are now saying that this kind of radical surgery is not necessary and instead may do more harm than good.

Anja

She did not like losing her mother and she did not like seeing her mother suffer. she’s doing her best to be here for her children. she’s one of history’s most interesting compelling admirable memorable people.