Angelina Jolie’s decision to undergo preventive surgery after learning she carried a harmful BRCA1 gene version captured tremendous attention, becoming celebrity health stories of the past decade.
Her experience also brought greater public attention to genetic testing, breast cancer risk and cancer prevention.
Here are few things to know about Angelina Jolie’s BRCA1 cancer prevention journey.
1. Jolie carried a BRCA1 mutation
The True Women star publicly revealed in 2013 that genetic testing showed she carried a harmful BRCA1 mutation, which raised her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes involved in repairing damaged DNA, and inherited dangerous versions can raise the risk of certain cancers.
2. She chose preventive breast surgery
In 2013, the George Wallace alum revealed that she had undergone a preventive double mastectomy, also known as bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy.
The procedure is an option for several individuals with a very high inherited risk of breast cancer.
As per the National Cancer Institute, bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy can reduce breast cancer risk by nearly 95% in women carrying harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 versions, although it can not eradicate risk completely.
3. Jolie later addressed ovarian cancer risk
In 2015, Jolie announced that she had also undergone surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes, minimizing her risk of ovarian cancer linked to BRCA1.
Risk-minimising removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes is highly effective at minimising ovarian cancer risk in individuals with harmful BRCA variants; however, it also causes surgical menopause when performed ahead of the age of menopause.
4. Genetic testing became part of the conversation
Jolie’s story highlighted how BRCA1 genetic testing can assist people having family histories understand inherited cancer risk. Genetic counseling is generally advised ahead of explaininbg possible results and their implications.
