The New York Times ran a letter by Angelina Jolie today. The piece entitled “Diary of a Surgery” recounts her choice to have her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to prevent an elevated risk of cancer.
In 2013, the actress wrote an op-ed in the newspaper about opting to undergo a double mastectomy after discovering she had a gene mutation that increased her risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
Holly Anderson, Executive Director of the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, explains that Jolie’s decision is a highly personal one.
Anderson said you shouldn't make a decision based on someone else's experience. “Don't make your decisions about doing bilateral mastectomies or oophorectomy based on fear of cancer, but on real facts. Let's look at the data. Let's look at what your true risk is.”
Anderson says most women overestimate their genetic predisposition to the disease. She recommends those with a family history of breast cancer make any decision based on consultation with their doctors.
“Get with someone who can advise you about what your true risk is and then these decisions are so personal,” she said.