Woman whose mom died from ovarian cancer undergoes procedure that may cut risk by 80%
When Kira Wynn was a college senior, she lost her mother Linda to ovarian cancer.
"She was an amazing sister, wife, mom, grandmother," Wynn told "Good Morning America" in an interview that aired Monday.
Now 37 years old and a mother of two, Wynn, who first told her story to The New York Times, is taking steps to reduce her own risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Wynn recently underwent a hysterectomy, removal of the uterus, along with a salpingectomy, a procedure to remove the fallopian tubes. Research has found that removing the fallopian tubes may significantly reduce the risk of certain types of ovarian cancer.
"When you see somebody go through what my mom went through, you just see this disease take everything from them, and in turn, take everything from you," Wynn said. "I don't want my kids to ever have to go through what my family has gone through."
What to know about ovarian cancer and fallopian tube removal
The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 21,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2026. For invasive epithelial ovarian cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body, the five-year relative survival rate is 32%, according to the ACS.
There is no reliable way to screen for ovarian cancer in women who do not have symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of ovarian cancer can also be vague and may include bloating, pelvic pain or pressure, abdominal or back pain and changes in bathroom habits.
Dr. Rebecca Stone, a gynecologic oncologist at Johns Hopkins, is among the doctors researching and advocating for the procedure as an ovarian cancer prevention strategy.
Stone explained that many ovarian cancers may actually originate outside the ovaries.
"The most common deadly type comes from the fallopian tube," Stone told "GMA."
Stone said tiny cancer cells can form on the end of a fallopian tube and then shed throughout the abdominal cavity, which is how the cancer spreads.
A 2026 Canadian study published in JAMA Network Open found that opportunistic salpingectomy was associated with a nearly 80% lower risk of serous ovarian cancer.
Stone said eligibility for the procedure depends largely on a woman's future reproductive plans.
"The No. 1 eligibility criteria for this intervention is that women not need their fallopian tubes for future fertility," Stone said.
Stone said that could include women who are finished having children, do not want children, plan to adopt or plan to use in vitro fertilization.
The American Cancer Society recognizes fallopian tube removal as an option to reduce ovarian cancer risk, while the American College of Surgeons has called for greater awareness of offering opportunistic salpingectomy during other planned surgeries.
Stone said expanding the use of fallopian tube removal in those circumstances could potentially save thousands of lives.
"Based upon current projections, we think that if women were able to universally choose fallopian tube removal at the time of hysterectomy, and as an alternative to tubal ligation, that would save almost 2,000 lives from ovarian cancer every year," Stone said.
Wynn told "GMA" she does not have any concerning gene mutations but is considered at elevated risk because of her family history of cancer, which was one of the reasons she decided to have her fallopian tubes removed.
After undergoing the procedure, Wynn said she is relieved to have the weight off her shoulders.
"I will be there for my grandkids, god willing," she said.
