Hard Decisions by Angelina Jolie and Other Women

Rebecca Darrah, MS, PhD,Certified Genetic CounselorAssistant Professor of Nursing at the Frances Payne Bolton School of NursingCase Western Reserve Universityhttp://fpb.case.edu/Faculty/Darrah.shtmEmail: [email protected]Phone: 216.368.0726

Master of Science in Genetic Counseling: Case Western Reserve University 2000 Doctorate of Philosophy: Genetics: Case Western Reserve University 2010

HARD DECISIONS BY ANGELINA JOLIE AND OTHER WOMEN

"When diagnosed with a BRCA mutation, women face difficult decisions about whether or not to undergo prophylactic surgeries as a means to reduce both breast and ovarian cancer risk. Although the decision to remove healthy tissue can be a difficult one, the desire to reduce potential cancer risks as much as possible is often stronger than the desire to avoid surgery and the resulting effects. Unfortunately the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer in women who carry BRCA mutations can be as high as 20-40%, and the current screening for ovarian cancer (ultrasounds and blood tests) are not very good. Therefore many women choose to have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in these cases. It should be noted however that this is a very personal decision that does not come without risks. Meeting with a genetic counselor- which Angelina Joile advocated as well- should be the first step toward deciding if genetic testing, and possible subsequent surgery is the best option." --- Rebecca Darrah

Case Western Reserve University has studio with VYVX connection.