Angelina Jolie's surgical decision creates awareness, prompts questions

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Hollywood film star Angelina Jolie is again making headlines for taking some drastic medical steps to avoid cancer.

Two years ago, Jolie made news for having a preventative double mastectomy to reduce her breast cancer risk. This week, you'll find her headlining on the New York Times website -- by penning an Op-Ed titled, "Diary of a Surgery." The actress writes that her mother, grandmother and aunt all died from cancer. She also says a blood test showed she as a mutation in the BRCA1 gene.

"What we know from families that carry these gene mutations, they have a susceptibility to develop cancer -- particular cancers are breast and ovarian," said Amanda Jacquart, Certified Genetic Counselor at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Jolie had not been diagnosed with cancer. But because of her gene mutation and recent blood test results, her doctor sent her to see a surgeon. Ultimately, Jolie had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed as a preventative caution. That move and her choice to write about it, is again drawing attention to the rapidly expanding field of genetic testing.

"Our experience with the first time around, there was a lot of self-referrals to genetics which was great; it caused a lot of awareness," said Jacquart. "With that, patients have the opportunity to gain more knowledge. And with that knowledge, you're able to make more informed decision-making for themselves."

In her Op-Ed, Jolie acknowledges there are many preventative options available to patients. She stresses the importance of learning about your options -- to choose what best fits your life.

If you're curious about genetic testing and whether it could be useful for you, a good place to start is by having a conversation with your primary care provider.