Angelina Jolie had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed

[miniroller]

Mar 24, 2015 9:57:31 GMT -5 puddleofgrace said:

I know a lot of people hate her but I can't.

I appreciate that she's speaking out about everything she is going through and I admire her bravery. I'm sure that was a very tough decision to make.

Yes. She's doing an amazing thing for this proactive procedure that is getting so much more awareness now. I feel like she's giving a voice to other women who've undergone this (&/ or similar) surgery- like 'Hey- I'm still a woman!!! I'm still a mom, wife, etc, even though I don't have all of my lady parts.'

[bcv513]

Good for her for being so open about it. When I first heard the story, I assumed it was somehow leaked. That was a beautifully written article

[Eagles]

Mar 24, 2015 9:55:49 GMT -5 toledo said:

And wrote an op-ed about it here.

And I just can't even with the online comments.  Some people are stupid, some people are just hateful about everything online (it's like their air), and some people just can't let go of their irrational dislike of this woman.  Ugh.

ETA: my "favorite" had to be the woman who commented that this was a dumb thing to do, because when God decides it's your time to go, you're going, no matter what.

Right, until she gets diagnosed with something and then it will be "FIX ME DOCTORS!"

Both of my maternal great grandmothers died from breast cancer and my aunt died from ovarian cancer.  My mother had a complete preventative hysterectomy at 46.  I get yearly pelvic ultrasounds, but I want to explore genetic testing.  I worry that my body is a ticking time bomb. 

[pinkeggs]

I really admire her for talking about it. Anyone who thinks that she is being dramatic and undergoing unnecessary procedures really doesn't know what they're talking about. She's positive for the BRCA gene and has lost immediate family members to cancer. She's being smart. And I also feel bad for her because she must be scared as hell. I lost my dad to stomach cancer at 36 and now being 35 myself, I'm terrified every time I have a GI problem. It's not for nothing.

[Waffles]

It must be a very tough decision to make and I admire her for making it and even more for speaking about it. Her doing so really has increased awareness, which can only be a good thing.

[ninjabridemom]

Her point about her kids not being able to say their mom died of ovarian cancer was really striking to me. Such a hard thing to process, I imagine.

I wish every cancer was this "easily" preventable (caveat: it's expensive to elect these surgeries and it's still a surgery you recover from etc etc). Colon cancer runs rampant in my family, so much so I'm getting a colonoscopy this year and I'm not even 30. It'd be much easier to preventatively rip out the colon.

[spindle92]

While I admit I am not a fan of hers, I am glad someone is speaking up and sharing their experience about this.

I am a carrier of the BRCA1 gene mutation and so I understand the thoughts that go thru your mind on a regular basis, especially during doctor's visits.

[sequins]

I was just about to post this. It was such a simple and moving piece. I'm glad she chose to share her story with others. I hope she remains cancer-free. My grandma died from ovarian cancer when she was 47. I worry so much about my mom and aunts. I can't imagine how stressful it is to have that knife hanging over your head when three members of your family die from the same disease

ETA : I think this is a brave choice and not dramatic at all.

[thedude]

Mar 24, 2015 10:14:31 GMT -5 Waffles said:

It must be a very tough decision to make and I admire her for making it and even more for speaking about it. Her doing so really has increased awareness, which can only be a good thing.

This is exactly how I feel about it. Angelina has emphasized the need for women in similar situations to research their options and choose what's best for them. She's never advocated her choices as being the right choices for others, which I very much appreciate and I wish was discussed more in articles about her. And for those critics of her decisions, I think it's really hard to say what you would do if in her exact same position. I'm a huge advocate for making the right health decisions for yourself, not making them based on what others want you to do.

[isabel]

They seem like a really great couple. I mean, I know we only know what gets reported, but it seems like they have a very healthy relationship.

She's clearly a very strong person. That people would put her down for this or say negative things is so odd to me.

[CurlyQ284]

I think she seems very brave in making these medical choices. I don't read comments because I never see anything helpful in there. But I 100% understand her choice. I can't imagine facing odds like that and having to make decisions. I wonder if these types of surgeries would be covered by insurance for us peasants or if it's considered elective?

[Deleted]

Yes, I'm another who just cannot get behind all the hate she gets coming her way. Nobody is perfect but I think she has more than made amends for her poor choices with all the wonderful humanitarian work she has done as well as sharing her own personal health struggles.

[sequins]

Why are the comments so full of vitriol? Did she do something terrible that I'm missing or do people just hate her for the brad pitt relationship?

[kitty63]

Another vote for she's not always my favorite but good for her. The truth is unless someone famous goes through an ordeal like this it slips under the radar. I know someone who has the BRCA gene who was told she had an over 90% chance of getting breast cancer. Without someone to bring attention to this I doubt women would be having these conversations with their doctors.

[Eagles]

Mar 24, 2015 10:23:57 GMT -5 sequins said:

Why are the comments so full of vitriol? Did she do something terrible that I'm missing or do people just hate her for the brad pitt relationship?

Yes.  More than ten years later. 

[snipsnsnails]

I read it this morning and loved her bringing more awareness to this.

My best friend just had her BSO in September (following her double mastectomy in July) and is in menopause now. She's 32. Because of the triple negative cancer she's had, she's not a candidate for hormone replacement therapy, but so grateful the options exist to lower her risk so she's around for her 1 year old, 3 year old, husband, family and friends.

It has been a life-changing year for her since her breast cancer diagnosis and discovery of her BRCA2 mutation. Many thanks to Jolie for continuing to give this a voice. I hope the best for her and her family.

[raangoli]

I cried when I heard this on the radio this morning. And I knew that there would be people coming out and saying hateful things, which made me even more sad. What she did is immensely personal, but I applaud her for sharing her story.

[sugarbear]

My brother sent this to me this morning, knowing that DH and I are about to start interviewing surgeons. I've gone to a couple support groups and I'm really struggling with my decision. Fortunately, because I don't have the gene mutation, I don't need to get my ovaries and tubes removed-- just the mastectomy.

I've always been indifferent to Jolie. But since she'd started writing about her surgeries, I just can't anymore. I am so, so grateful to her for sending the message that it's ok to make these hard decisions.

Anyway, I know it's not about me.

[sequins]

Mar 24, 2015 10:26:33 GMT -5 Eagles said:

Mar 24, 2015 10:23:57 GMT -5 sequins said:

Why are the comments so full of vitriol? Did she do something terrible that I'm missing or do people just hate her for the brad pitt relationship?

Yes.  More than ten years later. 

[spindle92]

Mar 24, 2015 10:31:50 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

My brother sent this to me this morning, knowing that DH and I are about to start interviewing surgeons. I've gone to a couple support groups and I'm really struggling with my decision. Fortunately, because I don't have the gene mutation, I don't need to get my ovaries and tubes removed-- just the mastectomy.

I've always been indifferent to Jolie. But since she'd started writing about her surgeries, I just can't anymore. I am so, so grateful to her for sending the message that it's ok to make these hard decisions.

Anyway, I know it's not about me.

I just want to send you ((hugs))).  This is a very difficult decision to make.

[fuckyourcouch]

Mar 24, 2015 10:04:41 GMT -5 Eagles said:

Mar 24, 2015 9:55:49 GMT -5 toledo said:

And wrote an op-ed about it here.

And I just can't even with the online comments.  Some people are stupid, some people are just hateful about everything online (it's like their air), and some people just can't let go of their irrational dislike of this woman.  Ugh.

ETA: my "favorite" had to be the woman who commented that this was a dumb thing to do, because when God decides it's your time to go, you're going, no matter what.

Right, until she gets diagnosed with something and then it will be "FIX ME DOCTORS!"

Both of my maternal great grandmothers died from breast cancer and my aunt died from ovarian cancer.  My mother had a complete preventative hysterectomy at 46.  I get yearly pelvic ultrasounds, but I want to explore genetic testing.  I worry that my body is a ticking time bomb. 

Same here. My maternal grandmother had it (not fatal), and my mom had it, along with uterine cancer. She had to have a full hysterectomy in her 30s and all her tests kept coming back negative. Her doctor just didn't think it was right based on her symptoms do the surgery was initially exploratory, but there were (malignant) tumors EVERYWHERE. It all had to go. 

I also feel like its just a matter of when I get a diagnosis. My doctors are very paranoid and do the yearly ultrasounds as well but I dread them every time, I just know it's going to be my turn. Hugs. 

[laurack]

some of the comments are asinine.

Yes, it sucks that the medical system is such that not everyone can receive the care she did/does. But that doesn't CANCEL OUT what she has done, which is advocate for women's health using what she can, her celebrity status.

In our society you can't discount the power of celebrity, she has power and I'm sure she has made a big difference by speaking out.

[cleo29]

I think it is great she is shedding light on this and being brace enough to be so open about it. I don't think you will find one person with cancer who, if give the chance to have a surgery that would prevent them from developing the cancer, would say no.

[cville]

God, I know. I mean, people who date, procreate with, and marry someone who was in another relationship when their relationship starts ABSOLUTELY deserve to die.

For-evvvv-errrrrrrrrrrrr.

[redheadk]

She really can't win. How often do we hear these same people complaining that famous people should use their fame to draw attention to actual important issues? Then, when she does it (and not in a sanctimonious way), she is criticized? It's utter bullshit.

And I really have no opinion of Angelina Jolie. I'm not a fan nor do I dislike her.

[Eagles]

Mar 24, 2015 10:35:59 GMT -5 sequins said:

Mar 24, 2015 10:26:33 GMT -5 Eagles said:

Yes.  More than ten years later. 

People are nuts. 

[Eagles]

Mar 24, 2015 11:03:37 GMT -5 fuckyourcouch said:

 Hugs. 

Same to you.  I'm sorry we're in similar boats. 

[Eagles]

Mar 24, 2015 11:06:48 GMT -5 romymichele said:

Mar 24, 2015 10:04:41 GMT -5 Eagles said:

Right, until she gets diagnosed with something and then it will be "FIX ME DOCTORS!"

Both of my maternal great grandmothers died from breast cancer and my aunt died from ovarian cancer.  My mother had a complete preventative hysterectomy at 46.  I get yearly pelvic ultrasounds, but I want to explore genetic testing.  I worry that my body is a ticking time bomb. 

Same. My mom was the only one who had it, but I still wonder if I have the gene. And now that I'm only two months away from turning 35, I need to look into genetic testing more.

And I can say with total confidence that if i had the gene, I would do what Angelina did without a doubt. 

Same here. 

[franklin]

Mar 24, 2015 10:37:57 GMT -5 Que? said:

Mar 24, 2015 10:31:50 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

My brother sent this to me this morning, knowing that DH and I are about to start interviewing surgeons. I've gone to a couple support groups and I'm really struggling with my decision. Fortunately, because I don't have the gene mutation, I don't need to get my ovaries and tubes removed-- just the mastectomy.

I've always been indifferent to Jolie. But since she'd started writing about her surgeries, I just can't anymore. I am so, so grateful to her for sending the message that it's ok to make these hard decisions.

Anyway, I know it's not about me.

I think it's exactly about you. She's giving a voice to something that a lot of us don't understand, and she's making herself relatable to you as a woman, not a movie star but just a woman and mother.
Best of luck to you.

I agree.  It really highlights how everyone may be forced to make a difficult decision in life and the journey that entails.

[julez]

Her journey has resonated with me so strongly because my mother and many women (and a few men) in our family carry the same gene mutation that she has. I was tested for it when my oldest was four months old, and the wait for the results was excruciating. I don't have the mutation but my thankfulness is tempered by the fact that so many of the people I love do have it and have had to make many of the same heartbreaking decisions that Angelina has had to make. I applaud her for exposing such a personal, intimate situation to bring the conversation about cancer to light.