Angelina Jolie Plans To Remove Ovaries In Second Preventative Surgery Following Double Mastectomy

Angelina Jolie is not done with her war against cancer. She won the first battle when she underwent a double mastectomy in February after learning she had the BRCA1 gene that, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, helps maintain the stability of a cell's DNA and prevent uncontrolled cell growth, but a mutation of the gene increases risks for breast and ovarian cancer in women.

"I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent. I can tell my children that they don't need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer," said Angelina in an op-ed piece with The New York Times.

Jolie also wrote that she "started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer."

Because of the genetic mutation of the BRCA1 gene, she still has a 50 percent chance of getting ovarian cancer, so now that she's fully recovered after the double mastectomy, she's ready to get her ovaries removed -- called oophorectomy.

That procedure is generally safe and carries a small risk of complications. People who've done it face more probabilities of getting osteoporosis, menopausal symptoms and increased risk of heart disease, although a few have experienced it after the surgery.

Jolie was very brave to open up about her struggle with cancer, since it's a sensitive subject to her. Her mother fought the disease for nearly a decade and died at 56. Because the BRCA1 gene mutation is genetic, she knew she had it, and she got scared every time her kids talked about "mommy's mommy" and asked Angelina if the same thing could happen to her. After learning of her risks, and fearing that her kids would grow up without a mother, she made the brave decision to do both surgeries.

"For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options. I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices," expressed Jolie.

According to People, the Jolie-Pitts have been focused on maintaining a sense of routine for their six kids, keeping up family traditions like Valentine's Day and Easter egg hunts while their mother was undergoing treatment.

"Her kids always come first to her," said a source to the magazine.