Two years after Angelina Jolie revealed she'd undergone a preventative double mastectomy, the actress delivered another bombshell: last week she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.

This candid essay, like her last, was written for the New York Times. In it, Jolie, 39, reveals that while she'd been planning the surgery for some time, preparing herself "physically and emotionally" for the early menopause that would follow, she believed she had months to schedule the procedure. Then doctors noted an increase in inflammatory markers in a recent blood test

Husband Brad Pitt flew in immediately.

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."

When Jolie chose to undergo a pre-emptive double mastectomy in 2013, she noted it was because a "blood test had revealed that I carried a mutation in the BRCA1 gene" that gave her "an estimated 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/peop ... /70363510/

I think I spoke about my friend, Pete, and his family with regard to this subject when Angelina had her mastectomy. Pete's mother had 6 children and died of ovarian cancer at age 43. Pete has four sisters and now three of them have been effected with cancer. The eldest sister, Liz, now has ovarian cancer and she is fighting with chemotherapy. His other two sisters with the BRCA1 gene had breast cancer. I think the fourth sister, his twin, does not have the BRCA1 gene.

In the same boat, I would probably follow Angie's path.

Facing one's own mortality is difficult ~ I give Angelina Jolie credit for having her priorities straight and choosing the responsible path ~ but don't forget that she's in the enviable position of being able to do that ~ she doesn't have to worry about medical bills or missing work ~

Sooz

The costs for those who can't afford them remove any "elective" perspective. It's, "Die, bitch".

No it isn't.

Pete's youngest sister had the mastectomies and breast replacement and her insurance covered it. His sisters all have insurance coverage and the procedures and care is covered.

I don't know what happens to Medicaid or Charity Care patients. I doubt I'll be able to figure that out either.

My friend with no insurance has had malignant melanoma cared for.

More details, to be fair. With my comments bracketed. It wasn't just the BRCA-1.
All emphasis mine. While I wish her well, I do balk at her publicity blitz regarding this for reasons I outlined when she had her mastectomies. There are a multitude of "stars" that go through health crises privately, without fanfare until they die or after they come through them.

Angelina Jolie Pitt: Diary of a Surgery

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I had been planning this for some time. It is a less complex surgery than the mastectomy, but its effects are more severe. It puts a woman into forced menopause. So I was readying myself physically and emotionally, discussing options with doctors, researching alternative medicine, and mapping my hormones for estrogen or progesterone replacement. (again, she can afford this!)But I felt I still had months to make the date.

.................................

Then two weeks ago I got a call from my doctor with blood-test results. “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.

Nothing in the examination or ultrasound was concerning. I was relieved that if it was cancer, it was most likely in the early stages. If it was somewhere else in my body, I would know in five days. I passed those five days in a haze, attending my children’s soccer game, and working to stay calm and focused.

The day of the results came. The PET/CT scan looked clear, and the tumor test was negative. I was full of happiness, although the radioactive tracer meant I couldn’t hug my children. There was still a chance of early stage cancer, but that was minor compared with a full-blown tumor. To my relief, I still had the option of removing my ovaries and fallopian tubes and I chose to do it.

I did not do this solely because I carry the BRCA1 gene mutation, and I want other women to hear this. A positive BRCA test does not mean a leap to surgery. I have spoken to many doctors, surgeons and naturopaths. There are other options. Some women take birth control pills or rely on alternative medicines combined with frequent checks. There is more than one way to deal with any health issue. The most important thing is to learn about the options and choose what is right for you personally.
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Last week, I had the procedure: a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. There was a small benign tumor on one ovary, but no signs of cancer in any of the tissues.

I have a little clear patch that contains bio-identical estrogen.(not a choice for most women, it's expensive) A progesterone IUD was inserted in my uterus. It will help me maintain a hormonal balance, but more important it will help prevent uterine cancer. I chose to keep my uterus because cancer in that location is not part of my family history.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/a ... ar-AA9UL8c

Oh, she had insurance. Lucky her. And those who don't/didn't?

I only know Pete's family with the BRCA1 gene and they all have some money and insurance. I talked to him today about this. Of his four sisters, three were positive and all three got cancer at relatively early ages. There are now tests for the men. Neither he nor his brother have tested to date. He is planning on seeing his doctor this week.

The lady who cleans for me does not have insurance. Charity care paid for her motorcycle falling on her leg and breaking it in three places. It paid for her malignant melanoma and bouts of skin cancer. NJ for the most part funds charity care.