Angelina Jolie, 39, in forced menopause

Angelina Jolie, 39, in forced menopause
PHOTO: Angelina Jolie, 39, in forced menopause

She wants to meet her grandchildren.

Thus, she has given up on having more biological children.

Angelina Jolie has had her ovaries removed, just two years after she had a double mastectomy.

In a diary entry that she wrote for the New York Times last week, she said that her will to survive is strong.

Her decision to increase her odds of survival against breast cancer and ovarian cancer led her to have the surgeries.

She wrote: "A simple blood test had revealed that I carried a mutation in the BRCA1 gene.

"It gave me an estimated 87 per cent risk of breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer.

"I lost my mother, grandmother and aunt to cancer.

"I wanted other women at risk to know about the options."

Removing her ovaries has put the 39-year-old actress into forced menopause.

She recounted the ordeal she went through three weeks ago when a blood test showed that she may have had early signs of cancer.

She called her husband, Hollywood actor Brad Pitt, who immediately flew back from France.

After her surgery, a small benign tumour was found in one of her ovaries.

"It is not possible to remove all risk, and the fact is I remain prone to cancer.

"I will look for natural ways to strengthen my immune system.

"I feel feminine, and grounded in the choices I am making for myself and my family.

"I know my children will never have to say, 'Mom died of ovarian cancer'."

Entertainment website Bustle reported that there has been an outpouring of love and respect for Jolie from her fellow Tinseltown friends such as E! host Giuliana Rancic, who had a double mastectomy herself in 2011, and singer Sheryl Crow, a breast cancer survivor, among many others.

Actress Mindy Kaling said: "To women who follow me on here: I truly hope you take a few minutes to read this moving & informative oped (that was written by Angelina Jolie)."

Cardiothoracic surgeon and TV personality, Dr Mehmet Oz, added: "I applaud Angelina Jolie's courage to do what she and her doctors felt was necessary to ensure her overall well-being."

Film writer Rebecca Keegan believes Jolie did the right thing to open up in public about it. "Talk about using your fame for something that matters."

Writer Melissa Silverstein was in awe of her: "'I am now in menopause'. How many women in Hollywood say this? Very brave about her hysterectomy'."

Source: New York Times, YouTube, Daily Mail


This article was first published on March 31, 2015.
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