Last week, Angelina Jolie underwent a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in order to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes. The news has led to discussion on social media.

In fact, as per doctors, the news will encourage many women to consider undergoing genetic testing. Studies have shown that elective surgeries can significantly reduce the risk of cancer.

Jolie underwent genetic testing and came to know that she carries a gene mutation that gives her 87% chance of having breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian cancer. Her grandmother and aunt had died because of cancer.

Jolie's mother died at the age of 56 after undergoing a decade-long battle with breast cancer. Jolie has already undergone a double mastectomy procedure two years ago.

David Fishman, Director of the Mount Sinai Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment Program in New York City, said, "A Nobel laureate could give the same message, and it might reach only a handful of people. Angelina is using her celebrity in a heroic way, and she's going to reach millions of people worldwide".

Fishman shared that since 2013, interest in genetic testing at Mount Sinai Hospital has almost doubled. Fishman said it takes a lot of courage to share their private health-related matter to discuss with the world.

Jolie's courage has helped a quite sensitive matter to come under spotlight and get discussed. In fact, a study came to know that referrals to breast cancer has more than doubled in the UK since the time Jolie unveiled about her first procedure.

Data from 21 major clinics was collected and it was found that referrals increased 250%. All the participating centres noted that a significant increase in number of women attending referred to the Angelina Jolie story.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer death in US women, said the Centers for Disease Control. As per the American Cancer Society, around 21,590 women will develop ovarian cancer this year and roughly 14,180 will die from the disease.