photo credit: Karen Morneau Photography
This week, actress Angelina Jolie made a candid admission to raise awareness about ovarian cancer. Writing in the New York Times, she shared her experience of preemptively having her ovaries removed to take active steps to fight and prevent ovarian cancer. Long outspoken about her family history–Jolie’s mother passed away from the disease at the age of 49 and she herself is a carrier of the BRCA-1 gene mutation–Jolie had a double mastectomy two years ago and shared that news at the time as well, lending her high-profile celebrity to the effort of raising awareness and spurring more people to talk about ovarian cancer.
Here in Wilton, one woman has also been motivated from her own family history and experience to do the same. Ashley Gouveia, a young mom of two children, has been active in raising awareness about the killer disease–but she’s also candid about sharing her own steps to sharply limit her chance of developing ovarian or related cancers.
GOOD Morning Wilton asked Ashley to open up with other Wilton residents through our “5 Questions With…” series.
1. Why are you active in raising awareness about ovarian cancer?
Ashley Gouveia: My mother was diagnosed with the disease at age 50 and was gone two months before her 59th birthday. She fought hard those nine years and couldn’t beat it. In addition to the intense grief and loss I felt, I was angry! Not ever to be one to accept ‘no,’ I just couldn’t come to grips with the fact that such a vital, healthy woman (and many like her), who tried almost every traditional and alternative treatment available, just couldn’t lick it.
In addition, I found out in January 2014 after being tested, that I carry a faulty gene, the BRCA 1 gene mutation, which sharply increases my odds of getting ovarian and/or breast cancer in my lifetime.
2. When you learned that Angelina Jolie had written her second article to focus attention on taking charge of your health and facing ovarian cancer—in such an open and revelatory way—what did you think?
I wasn’t surprised given that this was Part II of her journey. However, I was surprised (and I say that without judgement) that she chose to wait on this particular procedure since ovarian cancer is the more insidious of the two diseases and usually not detected until too late a stage. When I heard on the news that she had finally done it I was glad for her but I can’t tell a lie… I also felt relief. I internally jumped for joy knowing that I was done with it all! And I am proud.
3. What steps have you taken to reduce your chances of developing ovarian cancer?
After discovering I have this defective gene, I chose to have my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed right away. After watching my mother suffer it was an easy decision but it wasn’t welcome by any means! I feared a lot of the physical changes but mostly the emotional ones due to loss of hormones, etc. It’s certainly different but nowhere as tough as I imagined it would be.
Once healed from that, I started interviewing breast and plastic surgeons to have a preventive double mastectomy with reconstruction. I had the mastectomy this past December and had the final surgery just last week. It has been a challenging year and quite a process for me — and for my family and friends included — but a rather smooth and not so unpleasant one. And the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is knowing that I have done EVERYTHING I possibly can to minimize my risk and stay on this earth as long as possible. For myself AND for my children.
4. What do you do each September here in Wilton and why?
September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of my mom and also to bring awareness to the disease, I gather my children, any friends and family members that can help, and we tie teal ribbons around (every!) light post in town. We are asked questions and thanked along the way. I love to see curious people walk up to the ribbons and read what it’s all about.
5. What practical things do you encourage women to do (and their partners to support) to be aware of their health when it comes to ovarian cancer prevention and detection?
Awareness is key as well as knowing what your options are. I suppose it starts first with knowing your family history and then taking control of your own monitoring. Regular and consistent GYN checkups are imperative, and if ovarian or breast cancer runs in your family it’s important to speak with a genetic counselor about what those implications mean for you. If more specialized attention is needed, as in my case, you’ll need a team of doctors that you trust, like, and that will answer ALL of your questions. Your health is in their hands and you spend a lot of time with them!
Next and no less important is your support network of family and friends. I have been blessed with the best. You go through a lot of changes, physically and emotionally and so often need an ear to listen, a kind word, hugs, encouragement, a meal — you name it. Having those that mean the most to me by my side through appointments and procedures and there when I woke from the surgeries meant everything and made it all tolerable.