When it comes to your health, you want to make smart decisions. So, like the smart patient you are, you go looking for information. Good for you! But there’s so much information these days – it’s everywhere you look, and so much of it is frightening, or contradictory. The result: You may over-react to what you read and wind up having trouble making rational decisions.

Just look at how hard it is to be informed – but not make yourself crazy — after breast cancer. The whole process of being diagnosed with breast cancer and then getting treated is, of course, traumatic. As a result, every one of my patients dealing with it have become avid readers, and they are trying to do whatever they can to prevent a recurrence.

But this can make a person a little crazy. As an example, the use of soy after a diagnosis of estrogen sensitive breast cancer is not recommended. However, there is no evidence that it is dangerous. The rationale is that soy contains plant estrogens that could potentially stimulate estrogen receptors in breast tissue and cause a recurrence. Many of my patients and friends avoid all soy, even if there is a tiny amount in medication capsules.

These same patients will drink two or three glasses of wine a night, which we know increases the risk for breast cancer. Multiple studies have confirmed that more than one glass of wine a day increases breast cancer risk by one and a half times when compared to non-drinkers. My patients also may eat high-fat cheeses and other dairy products. This also has been found to increase breast cancer risk, because of the concentration of animal estrogens in fat.

Other patients may never let a bit of tofu or soy milk pass their lips, but get lax about exercise, when we know that working out just 30 minutes a day can decrease breast cancer risk by at least 18%.

I am not saying that it is okay to go out and eat unlimited soy. What I would like to point out, however, is that a logical approach to maintaining wellness is important. Regardless of your medical issues, speak with your doctor about what types of behaviors and habits will help you to maintain your health, because your doctor can assist you in forming a rational plan that will work for you.

Since there is a boatload of medical information from so many different sources, we all need help in sorting it out. Knowledge is power, so access it (in a rational way)!

“One of the first duties of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicine.”
Sir William Osler