Angelina Jolie has written an article in which she reveals that she underwent surgery to have her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed last week.
In The New York Times, Jolie wrote of her decision to have a preventative double mastectomy in 2013 after she discovered that she carries a mutated gene which increases the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
Jolie has now had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, which she describes as a "less complex surgery" than the mastectomy. However, it has forced her into menopause.
She writes: "It is a less complex surgery than the mastectomy, but its effects are more severe. It puts a woman into forced menopause."
Two weeks ago, she received a phone call from her doctor informing her that she had "a number of inflammatory markers that are elevated, and taken together they could be a sign of early cancer".
The actress and director had a further examination and ultrasound which did not reveal anything of concern, but she made the decision to have surgery to prevent future risk.
Jolie writes: "The day of the results came. The PET/CT scan looked clear, and the tumour 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 tumour. To my relief, I still had the option of removing my ovaries and fallopian tubes and I chose to do it."
She adds: "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.
"It is not easy to make these decisions. But it is possible to take control and tackle head-on any health issue. You can seek advice, learn about the options and make choices that are right for you. Knowledge is power."
