Just this morning, we heard that Angeline Jolie made a decision to have major surgery in order to remove her ovaries and Fallopian tubes after doctors detected early signs of cancer this month. Jolie has an aggressive family history of cancers common in women like breast cancer.

Jolie underwent "a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy." The surgery revealed a small benign tumor on one ovary but no signs of cancer in the other tissues. She chose to keep her uterus because there is no history of uterine cancer in her family.

Jolie published an Op-Ed in The New York Times similar to the Op-Ed she published regarding her double mastectomy. Jolie spoke about her plan to have this latest surgery for several months. Two weeks ago, she got a call from her doctor, who told her that blood tests had revealed "a number of inflammatory markers that are elevated, and taken together they could be a sign of early cancer."

"It is not possible to remove all risk, and the fact is I remain prone to cancer," Jolie writes. She noted her most recent surgery was "a less complex surgery than the mastectomy, but its effects are more severe."

Early Menopause for Women

By performing this surgery early, it will force her body to be in early menopause.

Jolie even notes this:

"Regardless of the hormone replacements I’m taking, I am now in menopause, I will not be able to have any more children, and I expect some physical changes. But I feel at ease with whatever will come, not because I am strong but because this is a part of life. It is nothing to be feared."

Ovarian Cancer: Key Statistics

• Accounts for 3% of all cancers in women
• About 21,290 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer this year
• About 14,180 women will die from ovarian cancer this year
• Ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women
• Main develops in older women: Half of the women diagnosed are 63 or older

Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors

• Age: Women age 63 or older are more at risk
• Family history 
• Obesity
• Reproductive history
• Personal history of breast cancer
• Fertility drugs: may increase risk of developing ovarian tumors

Ovarian Cancer Signs and Symptoms

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms such as urgency (always feeling like you have to go) or frequency (having to go often)
• Fatigue
• Upset stomach
• Back pain
• Pain during sex
• Constipation
• Menstrual changes
• Abdominal swelling with weight loss

Ovarian Cancer Prevention

Many women have early signs of ovarian cancer but experts say most of the common factors only slightly increase a women's risk. Therefore, they only partly explain the frequency of the disease.

Ovarian Cancer: Reduce Your Risk

• Oral contraceptives (especially if women have used them for several years, but they do have side effects; important to talk to your doctor.)
• Gynecologic surgery: Removal of the ovaries may reduce your risk, but experts say this should only be done for valid medical reasons like Angeline Jolie's.
• Family history of ovarian cancer? Talk to your doctor about genetic counseling and testing.
• Estrogen Therapy or Hormone Therapy: For women in menopause, this may help