Angelina Jolie says the decision to deal with her cancer was simple. Mine is not | Fay Schopen

Like the actor I have a gene mutation that increases my risk of breast and ovarian cancer. But removing my ovaries means I will never have biological children

I am not married to Brad Pitt, I have never given a speech at the UN and I tend not to travel by private jet. But Angelina Jolie and I, it turns out, have two major things in common. We are both 39, and we both have a gene mutation, which gives us an elevated risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

Jolie underwent a preventative double mastectomy and reconstruction in 2013, and today revealed that she has elected to have further surgery to remove her ovaries and her fallopian tubes, following a check-up two weeks ago. Writing in the New York Times, Jolie, who has a BRCA1 mutation, says she has an estimated 87% risk of breast cancer and 50% risk of ovarian cancer.

Related: Angelina Jolie reveals she had ovaries removed after cancer scare

My choice is to either accept I will never have a child and have the surgery, or cross my fingers

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