AboutClaes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. Expertise I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience in diagnostics and treatment of breast tumours.
Experience I'm a Doctor of Medicine. Licensed/certified physician and surgeon and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation therapy in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and the European Union. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. Now in private practice in Stockholm, Sweden.
I was told by my physician that since I have fibrocystic disease, I should avoid consuming soy products because of the natural estrogen contained in the foods. She is afraid that with my denser breasts, soy products would increase my chances of getting breast cancer. Is this true? I am a high risk patient for getting breast cancer and other doctors advised me to actually consume 2 servings of soy a day to reduce my risk of breast cancer. Are my chances greater because I have denser breasts? Thank you!
ANSWER: Do you have breast cancer in your family? Is that why you mention that you are a high risk patient for breast cancer? I need to know why you are considered a high risk patient before I answer.
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QUESTION: On my paternal side, my grandmother had breast cancer and on my mother's side, two of her four siblings have had breast cancer and my grandfather died from lung cancer. I don't know if this information is helpful, but I recently had 2 moles removed because they were pre-cancerous. Thank you so much!
Answer Well since you do have a lot of breast cancer in your family you probably are at risk yourself. However, dense breast tissues have only a marginal effect on your risk of developing a breast cancer. BUT they make the detection of a breast cancer much more difficult - even with mammography. So in your case I do recommend that mammography is combined with ultrasound AND MRI breast scans! The low breast cancer frequency in Japan, Korea & China has been linked to the high consumption of soy products there. So I do not really see any great danger in your soy habits but I can not promise you that they will protect you either. Good luck!
