00:00In 2013, Angelina Jolie was in the limelight, not for a movie, but for this, an op-ed she wrote in the New York Times about the decision to remove her breasts.
00:10She says she did it because her risk of breast cancer went from 87% to 5%.
00:16Two years later, she had her ovaries removed, once again sharing her reasoning with America.
00:22Her public health journey helped raise awareness for a gene mutation she carried, BRCA1.
00:27She also had the CA125 blood marker.
00:31Jolie was tested after the loss of her mother and wanted to make sure she was there for her children.
00:36So it's really important once it's identified in a patient to do what we call cascade genetics, meaning inform your family about the genetic mutation so other family members can hopefully get tested.
00:52Pramal Thacker is the chief of gynecologic oncology at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis.
00:57As a leading expert in gynecological cancer, she knows testing is key.
01:02Right now, patients with BRCA markers often choose risk-reducing surgeries.
01:07However, a test that is currently underway in the U.K. could change all of that.
01:12And this then hopefully could, you know, detect ovarian cancer earlier in order to prevent women being diagnosed at a later stage.
01:21Last month, University College London Hospitals announced a test for women who have a high risk of ovarian cancer due to inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene alterations, who wish to defer preventative surgery.
01:34It's a test Thacker says could save lives.
01:37So the majority of our patients are found stage 3 or 4, which makes it harder to treat, of course.
01:41While the test is only available in the U.K. right now, Thacker says to expect it here in the United States very soon.
01:48While the test requires three visits a year, based on the willingness of women to get an annual mammogram, Thacker is optimistic.
01:56So I do think that, you know, this is at least a very reality-based test that can happen for patients easily.
02:03For more details on this newest cancer breakthrough, download our Straight Arrow News app.
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