The problem is information... too much information

We received a couple more books Sunday that I just finished reading.

1. The Not-so-Scary Breast Cancer Book: Two Sisters'’ Guide from Discovery to Recovery by the Ingrams.

It's fascinating how the two sisters reacted differently to all the aspect of breast cancer. As another one of my books says, even if the diagnosis is the same, the way the illness inhabits each individual is very different.

They, like me, had trouble knowing how to respond to the question, "How are you?"”
Do you answer straightforwardly or do you offer the answer that everyone wants for you, including yourself? "“Fine, thanks."” They suggest trying, "Day at a time, thanks."”

They also wrote: "“No matter what treatment you select, you may second guess your decision. So did we."”

A friend in New Mexico sent me an interesting article by Ellen Goodman, "Breakthroughs Enough to Cause a Nervous Breakdown," which speaks to this point. If we are so much more responsible for our own health, what are the implications? Especially when it comes to breast cancer, since the doctors admit to having little research on pre-menopausal women and successful treatment.

In the bad old days, patients put themselves in the hands of doctors. Now consumers are more likely to believe that our health is in our hands. With that comes the belief that we must do our own statistical analysis, risk-benefit assessment and double-blind studies of one.

This shift in information and decision-making was supposed to be empowering. It often is. But the flip side is that we can also end up feeling confused and wholly responsible.

. . . As Harvard Medical School's Lachlan Farrow says, "“When we give you choices, it feels like you have control over the outcome and responsibility for choosing the right outcome. It puts an incredible burden on you."

So if I reject a certain treatment, am I asking for recurrence? If I take a drug with side effects, am I choosing them?

2. The Breast Cancer Prevention Diet: The Powerful Foods, Supplements, and Drugs that can Save Your Life by Dr. Bob Arnot

This book elaborates on the information I already had about prevention diets by offering specific suggestions for pre- and post-menopausal women. Two recommendations gave me pause.

• Eliminate Glucose Overload. Determine the glucose content of food and avoid foods with a high glycemic index which cause spikes in blood sugar. The author says that glucose load is the "“premier concept in nutrition today."” So I must be living under a rock. The list of high-glycemic foods includes bagels, potato, muffins, biscuits, cereal, cactus jam, pasta, popcorn and parsnips. (Ok, so I don'’t mind giving up that last one.)
  
  
• Don'’t drink. Previous recommendations said to limit drinking to one a week. –Certainly do-able with no change in my life. Unfortunately, this author argues that alcohol boosts estrogen levels, which increases the risk of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women.
  

I don't think I want to learn anymore. Do I really want a life without pasta, potatoes, wine and sugar?