Actress Angelina Jolie wrote a New York TImes Op-Ed this morning entitled, "My Medical Choice," in which she says she had a preventative double mastectomy because she has a breast cancer gene which puts her at higher risk for cancer.
I admit that I'm not a big fan of Angelina's movies, but, today, this gives me an opportunity to talk to my patients about the idea of preventative medicine. It's not just about breast cancer, but also about other aspects of cancer prevention (like lung cancer, colon cancer, and other types of cancer). In addition to cancer prevention, it's a chance to take a look at other aspects of people's health like cardiovascular risk prevention and even mental health topics.
News cycles are so quick these days, so it's important for physicians to take advantage of this opportunity of a celebrity in the news to talk about preventative medicine issues - not just breast cancer. Family Medicine focuses on the entire person and the entire family. That's why I love what I do!