because my mother is blind. so i want to be an eye doctor in the future. >> she is now 17 years old and waiting to find out if she passed her 10th grade final exam. cnn films "girl rising" premieres sunday, june 16th at 9:00 p.m. eastern. that will do it for me. cnn newsroom continues at the top of the hour with don lemon. right now, time for a special edition of sanjay gupta, m.d., on angelina jolie and breast cancer. today, what time magazine is calling the angelina effect. a public announcement prompts a worldwide conversation about breast cancer. you are also going to hear from another actress and breast cancer survivor, christina applegate. as i'm sure you know angelina jolie made a brave decision, i would call it, this week revealing she underwent a

preventative double mastectomy. to be clear she did not have breast cancer but discovered she had the mutated brc1 gene which increased her risk for breast and ovarian cancers. in the new york times she wrote, quote, i choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know they might be living under the shadow of cancer. it is my hope they can get gene tested and if they have a high risk they will know that they have strong options. she's right. there are thousands of women unaware they may carry this genetic mutation. it's important to stress only 5% to 10% of women diagnosed with breast cancer do, in fact, have the defective brca-1 or 2 geneses. joining me to talk about this, put it in context is the director of genetic counseling at emery university. thanks for joining us. most women do not have the defective gene.

less than 1%. >> correct. less than 1% of women in the general population actually less than half a percent would carry a mutation in brca 1 or 2. >> only 5 to 10% of women diagnosed have the gene. >> at most. recent data suggests 3% to 5%. >> what is a woman to take from this? you hear the announcement from angelina jolie. you worry about breast cancer. who should be tested? >> the vast majority of women are not going to carry a mutation in brc 1 or 2. we look for clues in the family history. that would be multiple caseses of breast cancer in the family. earlier age of onset. ovarian cancer in the family as well. a woman who's had both breasts and ovarian cancer is a strong indicator. also male breast cancer. and oshkinazi jewish ancestry.

one in four of that an sesry carry this gene. >> i shared earlier my own mother is a breast cancer survivor. >> mm-hmm. >> my mother. now i have three daughters. again, a lot of people were asking this in their family trees. what would you counsel my family, for example. >> it would depend on the age your mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. it would also depend on the pathology of the breast cancer. there are certain types more likely to be associated with mutations. then i would look at the more extended family. sisters, cousinses, nieces, nephews. aunts, uncles, grandparents. one thing that's important for women to understand is that these gene mutations are equally inherited by men and women and fathers can pass them to their daughters. so often people think about, oh, if i have a mother or a sister. you have to look on the father's

side of the family. you have to look at aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents to really see the pattern that's going on. >> one thing that was mentioned in the op-ed is the cost. it's not cheap. i think $4,000 roughly. unless you are considered high risk, i believe, in which case it may be covered by many insurance companies. >> many insurance companies cover the testing. often with policies that say you have to meet certain criteria. again, there has to be some level of suspicion in the family or in that individual based on their personal cancer history. also, even though the first person in the family tested costs $4,000, once a specific mutation is identified then the testing for every other family member is only $475. if you think of it in the context of a family it's actually pretty cost effective. >> i think the numbers are important. people trying to put this

together for themselves and their families this week. thanks so much for joining us. >> my pleasure. christina applegate is an emmy-award winning actress, a wife, a mother and a breast cancer survivor herself. she's not only speaking out about how she detected the disease, she's helping women access the same screenings she had. knowing she had a strong family history of breast cancer, christina applegate began mammograms at 30. but that's not the test that found her cancer. >> the doctor said it's time we start doing mris because of the density and the inability to see what was going on. luckily for me he did that. because they found on the mri

the calcificationses which then, you know, through the biopsy found it was cancer. >> she's also a carrier of the brca-1 mutation. >> i was so resistant to the idea of mastectomy. i thought this is ridiculous. i'm not doing that. >> you didn't want one, but after all the data came back, you talked to your doctor, you decided a double mastectomy was the thing to do. >> when my head goes into vanity sometimes i go, darn it, you know, i miss those gals. but it's closely followed by this is about your life. you know, what's the sacrifice of that? >> healthy and now cancer-free, applekbaet is on a mission to provide other women the same access to screenings she had. >> it saved my life. there is no ifs ands or butts about it. i just had a mammogram. there was nothing on it. this found it at a stage that

was curable instead of at a stage where it's not. i also unfortunately know that mri screenings are incredibly expensive and a lot of insurance companies don't cover that which is why i started my foundation. it just really upset me so much that these women were opting not to have this really valuable screening because of money. because of we are not taking care of women who are high risk. >> her foundation called right action for women provided hundreds of women funding to get both the mri and brca genetic testing. up next i will speak with another breast cancer patient. she's our very own zoraida and she says angelina jolie's story empowered her to share her story. ♪ if loving you is wrong

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where certain fungal infections are common. you should not start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. tell your doctor if you're prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure, or if you have symptoms such as persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. since enbrel helped relieve my joint pain, it's the little things that mean the most. ask your rheumatologist if enbrel is right for you. [ doctor ] enbrel, the number one biologic medicine prescribed by rheumatologists. at the beginning i was really scared. i was in a really dark place because i allowed myself to go to worst case scenario.

so when i was told i had breast cancer i was driving to pick up my son from school. i really had to compose and gather myself. i didn't want him to know. that night i let myself feel. i talked to the doctor. he talked to me about different options. that was my darkest hour. >> that, of course, is "early start" anchor zoraida talking about dark moments with a cancer diagnosis. she joins me e from her native chicago along with dr. john kim who will perform her breast reconstruction. before we begin i want viewers to be forewarned this is a sensitive segment. we'll show images of nude breasts that may not be appropriate viewing for everyone. try to give you a heads-up before those images come on the screen. thanks for joining us. i have had a chance to follow your discussions this past week. i said before to you it's so

powerful, so important the message you had this week. you talked about the idea that angelina jolie's announcement gave you this opening to talk about the recent diagnosis. was it hard to reveal your personal struggle to such a wide audience? >> yes. i mean, it's not something easy to talk about. there are a couple of things that are more complicated to talk about than others, you know. it's an emotional decision. when i think about my children. especially, you know, when i think about my daughter and perhapses her increased risk factor now. i have talked about the fact that when i think about my sexuality. it was something i had to deal with. i was embarrassed that i cared. that's complicated. i want to tell everyone this is what's concerning me. this is the decision i made. yeah. it was liberating and it was also difficult.

>> i'm sure it's frightening. just so many people, i'm sure all around you that know about this that didn't before. my understanding is in a little bit more than a week now el get a double mastectomy which means both breasts will be removed. during that same procedure you will get the first step of breast reconstruction. now we will show some of the images that may not be appropriate for everybody. these are former patients of yours, dr. kim. can you talk through some of the before and after images and talk about what's now available to women that maybe wasn't available 15 years ago and how you go about trying to get the natural look that you are describing. >> right. >> the way to get the natural look comeses from two main sources. we want to get the volume filled back to what the woman wants in terms of the size of the breast. and we want to get the shape of the breast back down, too. you can do that by using your

own tissue again, typically from the tummy, sometimes from the back. in this particular case this woman had bilateral double mastectomies. we were able to see on the before that she had her nipples and breasts -- they were smaller, probably a b cup. she wished, if possible, to get a larger size. so with the combination of newer technology with newer types of implants, newer techniques we were able to preserve her nipple. if you notice on the side there is a little scar. there is a tiny scar that goes laterally or towards the outside. with that slight scar we were able to completely reduce the risk, as best as possible with the double mastectomy and give her breasts even in clothing, outside of clothing make her feel natural and give her the sense of self and whatever other issues related to sexuality back again. >> this may be more of a psychological question. given these advanced techniques

and what's now possible in the world of re krconstruction do y find women are -- i'm not sure aggressive is the word, but more likely to go ahead and have a mastectomy or a double mastectomy when confronting this diagnosis? >> over the past several years, more and more women who have breast cancer on one side are electing to get prophylactic mastectomy on the other side. i think from talking to them and culling over hundreds of patients i think the idea is that they want to reduce risk as much as they can. when they see what's possible in terms of reconstructing the breast after that maximal risk reduction is done then they feel that, you know what, this is a trade-off, a balance. they are willing to undergo this maybe a little bit more radical surgery because they know they will get the form and features of their breasts back to a

reasonable degree. it is empowering that the evolution of reconstruction has perhapses allowed women a little bit more choice when it comes to breast surgical options. >> i know you have had a lot of conversations with dr. kim about this. maybe seen some of the same images. was that part of your decision-making as well? this idea that these reconstructive options are available? how much does that play into your thinking regarding the cancer treatment? >> well, it played into it a lot. the first option i was given was a lumpectomy with radiation. i thought long and hard about that. the radiation was actually what scared me. you know, i almost felt a sense of ree lerelief, sanjay. i thought, now it can all go. i don't have to worry about that anymore. i don't have to worry about side effects with radiation. so it was a big factor in my decision. you know, it was.

i wanted to feel still like a woman. >> i really appreciate your time. i think a lot of people will gain a lot out of this discussion. we wish you luck. live strong. hope to check in with you soon. up next, the eternal question of what to eat. michael pollen will stop by with a piece of eating advice that's fun. it's also almost guaranteed to make you healthier. isn't a thing at all? it's lots of things. all waking up. connecting to the global phenomenon we call the internet of everything. ♪ it's going to be amazing. and exciting. and maybe, most remarkably, not that far away. we're going to wake the world up. and watch, with eyes wide, as it gets to work. cisco. tomorrow starts here. even in stupid loud places. to prove it, we set up our call center right here...

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we hear a lot about the connection between diet and health. so what if i told you there is one thing you can do that pretty much guarantees feeling better. it's not a workout, not a vegetable, not a supplement. it's the simple act of cooking your own food. that's michael pollen's case in "cooked," his new book. thanks for being back on the show. >> sure. >> it's a great book. i have tried to cook more food recently myself. i have enjoyed the process. i have small children and i find it communal. it's a great social thing for families. >> for sure. >> you have written a lot of books now. why did you decide to write this? >> what matters most about your diet aren't really the nutrients, good or bad. we obsess about antioxidants and omega-3s. it is important to work on that but for the average person the key fact about your diet is who is cooking it.

is it a human being, preferably yourself or a loved one, or is it a corporation? if it's a corporation, they cook badly. >> at a restaurant they may not use high quality food but they also bury it with salt and sugar. >> talking about fast food mostly. processed foods you find. home meal replacements in supermarke supermarkets. buy cheap ingredients, dress them up with fat, salt, sugar which cover up a lot of sins and use additives to make it look fresh because it stays on the shelf, a freezer case for a year. additives are a problem. the salt, fat, sugar is a problem. you would never cook that way at home. you don't have maltodextrin or

polysorbate 80 in your cupboard. it's stuff no human would cook with. >> takes getting used to but a lot of this made sense. i say it in part from a medical angle. but going back to cooking, have you done more cooking now? >> yeah. i have learned the importance of cooking. on many levels. from a health point of view it is the easiest thing to improve your health. if you are cooking you can stop counting calories, worrying about nutrients. you won't cook junk. you won't make french frieses. it's too much work. out buying food you will eat fries twice a day. s there is something built into the work itself that naturally pusheses you to a healthier diet. i think the important thing for us, because we are busy. it's hard to find time to cook is to get our kids in the kitchen. get them to help. the most important thing you can teach your kid for their long-term health and happiness is this life skill -- how to cook. >> i think it offers us a lot. also, if you cook you will have family meals.

you will sit down together. you have done all the work. >> eat real food has been a piece of advice you have been giving for a long time. >> it's simple. >> i enjoy speaking to you. congratulations on the book. you fit a lot in. i appreciate your time. >> thanks a lot. >> a check of the top stories minutes away. up next, the little known story of how laser eye surgery was born and what you should know if you're thinking of having it done. long and drop offsps begins with arthritis pain... and a choice. take up to 6 tylenol in a day or just 2 aleve for all day relief. all aboard. ♪ all aboard. cheryl burke is cha-cha-ing in depend silhouette briefs for charity, to prove that with soft fabric and waistband, the best protection looks, fits, and feels just like underwear. get a free sample and try for yourself. what makes a sleep number store different? what makes a sleep number you walk into a conventional mattress store, it's really not about you.

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last but not least, i want to tell you the story of a woman who helped millions of people see more clearly. she performed the first laser eye surgery to correct nearsightedness. this is dr. marguerite mcdonald talking about her life's work. >> we started with a little laser. the size of a bread box. we would shoot at plastic, arab bit or a monkey and hand crank the diaphragm smaller, shoot for a few more seconds, hand crank again. it was like something from the keystone cops. as time passed, we added more and more sophistication to it. so we were doing animals when a 62-year-old woman named elberta cassidy developed cancer in her eye socket.

she said, you're going to have to remove my eyes in a few days to save my life. would anyone like to experiment on my eye? we got permission to rush her out past the apes, past the gorillas and lay her down out of the primetime center and do a treatment. we got the tissue 11 days later. the results were fantastic. we realized it was possible to sculpt the cornea without any thermal damage, without scarring. so we began to realize the impact this might have. poor miss cassidy lost her battle with cancer and died. but icon vin convinced the univ to name the lab after her. it's gratifying to me to run into people enjoying life free of glasses and contacts. it's a game changer. i'm honored to have been a part of it. >> you know, if you are considering laser eye surgery

there are things to keep in mind. first of all, you need to keep your expectations in check. if your vision is bad, laser surgery is less likely to be effective for you. you should be at least 18 years old. before that your eyes are developing and changing. and you need to be healthy. laser eye surgery isn't recommended for diabetes, glaucoma, rheumatoid arthritis or other issues that affect the eye. talk to your doctor first. any surgical procedure carries risks. if you're happy with glasses and contact lenses it's probably not worth it to have the procedure. after all, we are here to help you chase life. that will wrap things up for us today. stay connected with my at cnn.com/sanjay. let's keep the conversation going on twitte twittetwitter @drsanjaygupta. time for a check of the top stories making news right now. hello,