Earlier in the week American Actress/Director and Humanitarian Angelina Jolie announced that she has undergone BSO surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes after signs of onset ovarian cancer were detected by doctors. This news comes just two years after she went through with a very publicized double mastectomy, in which both of her breast were removed and reconstructed with fillers. In 2007, Jolie lost her mother to ovarian cancer. After learning her genes carried the same risks she decided to be as proactive as possible in tackling the difficult decisions she needed to make. Jolie opted to proceed with that procedure which upon completion, dropped her chances of developing breast cancer from an overwhelming 87 percent to only five.

By choosing to once again be very open with the public on this latest procedure Angelina hoped to raise awareness and encourage women to become well informed on both their health risks and their options. While she emphasized that such drastic measures were a personal choice based on individual circumstance there are alternate routes which can be recommended by your doctor or the healthcare professional reviewing your case. The important thing is being conscious of your health factors as a woman. While the BSO surgery in itself is low risk and can reduce the occurrence of cancer related death by 70 percent before age the age of 70, it does result in immediate menopause regardless of the patients age. This means that Angelina and any other woman who undergoes this procedure will no longer be able to have children and will immediately begin to experience the symptoms associated with menopause as oppose to the more gradual decrease in hormonal projection that occurs when one enters into menopause naturally. But for Jolie, who is already the mother of three biological and three adopted children, the benefits of this surgery outweigh the costs. While she may not be able to have any more children she will be alive and in good heath to raise the ones she already has. For Angelina, being able to reassure her kids that they will not have to fear losing her to cancer was worth making tough decisions.

It is her wish that all women, especially those with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer seek out medical experts who can help them make informed decisions in their lives. If you or a loved one are aware of such potential risks in your family I encourage you not to put off these important precautions in securing your health and your future. If you enjoyed this article and would like to read more of my upcoming blogs please subscribe to my page and follow me on twitter @elsbitlander . You can also follow my personal instagram @shessumthin_els