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Lessons Learned from Angelina Jolie: You DON’T Need to Remove Your Organs

Summary: What can women learn about cancer prevention from Angelina Jolie's surgeries?
Air Date: 8/14/15
Duration: 10
Host: Leigh Vinocur, MD
Guest Bio: Christine Horner, MD, FACS
HornerLRChristine Horner, M.D., FACS, is a nationally known surgeon, author and professional speaker and holds two board certifications: the National Board of Surgery and the National Board of Plastic Surgery.

Horner was recognized as a leader in her field shortly after starting her plastic and reconstructive surgery practice because she successfully ran a national campaign to pass laws requiring insurance companies to pay for breast reconstruction following mastectomy.

Her five-year crusade with the Breast Reconstruction Advocacy Project (BRA Project) led to the passage of an unprecedented federal law that was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1998, requiring insurance companies to pay for a specific surgical procedure.
  • Book Title: Waking The Warrior Goddess: Dr. Christine Horner's Program to Protect Against and Fight Breast Cancer
Lessons Learned from Angelina Jolie: You DON’T Need to Remove Your Organs
Just two years after undergoing a preventative double mastectomy, Angelina Jolie Pitt openly revealed her surgical decision to remove her ovaries in her op-ed published by the New York Times.

Jolie reveled that she consulted with both Eastern and Western doctors while exploring alternative medicine as an option before opting for surgery.

However, once she decided to remove her ovaries, she wanted other women to know that what is best for her may not be best for other women, and that women should always explore other options.

Many doctors believe that once a young woman removes her ovaries, it could drastically increase their risk for chronic diseases and could cause complications later in life.

What can women learn from Jolie's story?

Board-certified surgeon, Dr. Christine Horner, shares the lessons women can learn from Angelina and why you don't necessarily need to have surgery.