alcohol and breast cancer reoccurence

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  • Zoffiel
    Zoffiel Member Posts: 3,372 ✭
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    @Deanne. I think your decision to not drink alcohol is a sound one made because of the information you have read or your own inclination. No one here is going to try to change your mind, many share your commitment.

    I won't be giving up my regular glasses of wine. I like it. Just like I like horse riding, motor bikes, gliders, power tools and all manner of things that could have bumped me off years ago. Some folk are risk adverse, some are not. It seems we are born that way.

    Opposing opinions are part of life. I'm sorry you feel under attack. I don't like to be argued with either, but sometimes it happens.
  • onemargie
    onemargie Member Posts: 1,264 ✭
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    Here is the link to Deanne's post if anyone is interested. I totally respect your choice not to drink Deanne absolutely. I read the cancer council article position statement that you mentioned and it does mention your comments, and as I said was not at all having a dig for your lifestyle choice at all and apologise if you were upset by this. I understand you were just trying to put the recommendation out there from what you've read to others, but there is so much information out there about this and like the other ladies have said non drinkers have been diagnosed with breast cancer too. And I still don't believe alcohol in moderation is harmful. and I asked my oncologist about this also and he also said its quite ok to drink in moderation as there is no conclusive link. Any way I respect all who are on here and whatever choices they make to get through this shitty time and I will eat healthy, exercise and get enough rest, and of course I always worry about recurrence, if I eat this will it come back or if I do that will it come back , if I don't do this or that will it come back etc  . And I totally understand why you want to give up alcohol after reading it Deanne as the first sentence says alcohol causes cancer. There are so many articles out there that say similar things, eggs are bad one year then good the next,  I read one that says bacon is carcinogenic! and bloody hell who wants to give up bacon!  but I wont stop living over it that's for sure, Margie :)

    https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Alcohol-and-Cancer-Position-Statement2.pdf
  • Deanne
    Deanne Member Posts: 2,163 ✭
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    Thanks @Zoffiel. As you say, we all make our own decisions based on our own experiences and what is important to us. Having just returned from my second trek to Everest Base Camp (this time with a group attempting to climb Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain in the world), I totally get that some of us take risks that others might choose not to  :). Those climbers are a different breed altogether! :o

    I understand and respect that others have opposing opinions but did feel singled out in this instance. I was mentioned in a comment (@onemargie)  and my reasoning was suggested to be based on unsubstantiated information. Some words and phrases were pretty difficult to not be offended by, despite assurances to the contrary. 

    You can share your opinion without unfairly attacking someone with a different view. 
  • melclarity
    melclarity Member Posts: 3,507 ✭
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    I  absolutely agree i think difference of opinion is a good thing! I do think that we do respect each others choices, however we perhaps have different views on the information. All my Specialists also said there is no more link between alcohol to Breast Cancer than any other disease. Its purely about eating a balanced diet which is just a normal recommendation. So i dont think its personal honestly. Ive been doing this 6yrs and in all that time not 1 in the medical profession ive come across talk of studies as they are all minority hence why theres something new comes up all the time to avoid. If I have to look at a study for my recurrence?  It wasnt alcohol in fact it was tamoxifen which my oncologist agreed as it doesnt work in a third of cases. 

    We all choose and i absolutely respect everyones choices and opinions. Its about being happy the way we find that to be true for ourselves. Hugs Melinda xo
  • onemargie
    onemargie Member Posts: 1,264 ✭
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    Hi there Deanne, take it as you want, your choice, it was not to be taken personally. And if anyone else is offended by my post then I am sorry. But if you are going to post comments like that you must expect some debate about it from others. If its conclusively proven that alcohol causes cancer then it should be written on every bottle of alcohol sold like it is with cigarettes. Like I said I totally respect your choice, with all of us in this situation its all about supporting one another no matter what. If its good enough for Jesus, then its good enough for me and fingers crossed I live to a ripe old age happy and cancer free and if I'm privileged enough to make it to the pearly gates one day then Ill be skidding through them on my knees and hitting him up for a drinkypoo when I bloody get there telling him WTF! you owe me a beer!!. I sincerely wish you all the best Deanne and hope you and everyone on this forum have a long happy fulfilled life no matter what lifestyle choices any of us choose to make. Cheers, Margie :)
  • primek
    primek Member Posts: 5,392 ✭
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    It doesn't hurt to make dietry changes unless excluding major food groups which can impact on your health of course. Alcohol doesn't fit into more than occasional (or indulgent) foods anyway. I was never much of a drinker anyway but decided I like to have an occasional glass of red wine, and that's my choice. We are all just doing the best we can to get on with living life after cancer and not living in fear I guess. How that looks is very individual. 
  • LibbyB
    LibbyB Member Posts: 52 ✭
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    Thanks for all your comments ladies! It definitely is personal choice and everyone seems to have a different view on this topic-which makes it tricky!
    I did speak to my oncologist and breast surgeon awhile ago about this as it was a concern to me as I do enjoy a glass of wine, have always enjoyed social occasions and want to be able to live my life to the fullest. Obviously to others it may not be as big of a concern. They both have stressed that drinking in moderation is fine ie-2 glasses of wine.3 times a week. I see my oncologist again next Fri so I will raise the topic again after this latest news report. 

    We we all have to remember we are doing an amazing job and trying to adjust to our new norms xx
  • melclarity
    melclarity Member Posts: 3,507 ✭
    edited May 2017
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    Ladies, whatever choices we all make...lets not lose sight of the most important thing in all of it?? dont let anything get in the way of stopping you from living. However and whatever that looks like to you.... Hugs everyone M xx
  • TonyaM
    TonyaM Member Posts: 2,836 ✭
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    I too saw the news article regarding alcohol on tv the other night.It was a very general statement and I wanted more info on the how,why and wherefors.Anyway,it was discussed at my bc support group yesterday and we all agreed that an occasional glass of wine/bubbly was ok.None of us really drink much alcohol as a result of lifestyle choices or bc medications.I rarely drank alcohol when I was first diagnosed with bc and then for the next 7 yrs,didn't drink but still got a recurrence. My dear mum died of primary liver cancer and she never touched a drop of alcohol. Cancer Council say alcohol is a known risk factor for cancer( any cancer) and that some people are susceptible to even small amounts.But for those who like a drink they should limit to 2 standard drinks a day. This is out of their' living well after cancer' booklet. I guess it's like a heavy smoker who is fine and then some poor bugger breathes in a few puffs and gets lung cancer.Unless we got our genetic profiles done we don't know our susceptibility to various diseases.We are all biologically different and our belief systems different too.I believe that a spoonful of sugar in my once a day coffee is ok,that a small chocolate bar once a week is ok,that a piece of bacon once a month is ok for me and that one glass of alcohol once a month is ok for me.Otherwise my diet is a very healthy one.I think it all boils down to moderation and work out what suits your body and your beliefs.And by the way, consuming  too much water can be toxic too.
  • June1952
    June1952 Member Posts: 1,834 ✭
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    Hello to all the ladies who commented above.  We all have likes and dislikes in life and we all weigh up what we see and hear.  I agree with bits of each posting.  Me ?  I began trying to lose weight in 2014 and was encouraged by my Doctor to drink a glass of water with lemon in it before and during a meal to aid digestion.  Later that year my boob went - she now says it was the high acidic environment that caused the cancer.  My friend's specialists say it is the sweet environment for her as she eats chocolates !  I like a nice glass or two and reckon it is just part of my life enjoyment so I am going to have it.  A bit like Tamoxifen (look out for my critics coming running here) my oncologist and I weighed up the pros and cons and the decision was made that the 'possible' benefits did not outweigh the known problems.  Quality of life and other medical issues came into it as well.  So, the news can be spread and put the fear of God into us ladies but really, does that help at all ?  My Mum lived to 96 - she may have had breast cancer, who knows, but she did not sign up for the endless mammograms (which are, after all, radiation) so she was never diagnosed.  Let's not forget all the "may cause", "may help" etc etc with we are bombarded on a daily basis.  My advice is to listen to what YOUR specialists say about YOU and YOUR situation and then go and enjoy the life that is ahead of you in whatever makes you happy.  Hugs to all.  Summer :-)
  • sandramj
    sandramj Member Posts: 253 ✭
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    Moderation folks.  I think we need to have anything and everything we want and need but in moderation. In my younger years I lived in a complete state of fight or flight with a very stressful job, running a home and with three teenage kids.  I had lots of bad health years after that including heart attack, major PE & brain tumour and gradually through these years after that changed my mental state mostly and have to say other than breast cancer diagnosed Feb this year I don't need to visit doctor unless its for prescriptions or referrals as the previous issues cause me to have ongoing care with several specialists.  If only I d been able to be calm and know the things I know now back then about the repercussions of long term stress and anxiety on my body, I may have dodged all of those permanently damaging effects.  I believe this breast cancer came along due to a family crisis when our youngest son and his wife split after thirteen years and the wife and two children 9 & 7 moved in with us.  It was heartbreaking every day, it was soul destroying listening to the wife cry alone in her room while the kids weren't there, to see and feel her heart breaking as she came to terms with the break up.  My anger with our son for being the one who called the break up - the distraught feelings of having this family break up and the future of the kids in peril (in my eyes). To see the little boy ask his Mum if they could please move back to be a family again etc etc.  This was in September last year and breast cancer diagnosis in February.  there was no breast cancer in our family, anywhere. I'd breast fed three babies for 12-18 months, and had regular mammograms.  AND I did not WANT Cancer EVER!  But in my left breast closest to my heart cells changed and cancer began.  Again Ive had the lesson to remain calm, stay relaxed and worry only about things I can control.  But the breast surgeon said to me being over 60, overweight and with a liver roll made me pretty assured of developing breast cancer.  We didn't discuss the emotional part, but I know how detrimental this was for my health over four months or so.  And so I chose not to drink alcohol, to give my body the best change to recover.  Also I only like sweet wines so SUGAR is in my mind a feeder of cancer and not good for anyone.  But I had a champagne yesterday for my birthday, and cake as a celebration.  I think that depriving myself is harmful to my spiritual side so I think moderation - balance.  And whatever you think will help you, most probably will.  I believe the power of our minds has not been tested and the ability is way beyond how we use it now.  I read a lot of Louise Hay's books when I had the brain tumour and it helped immensely then and Im back reading it again.  And other things like meditation, relaxation, taking time out and smelling the roses etc.  If we could eat all of our own home grown vegetables, fruit etc and eat our organic meat, fish chicken etc Im sure cancer would be reduced in the world, but again, we can do what we can do, that is in our own best interest. Just saying......  
  • June1952
    June1952 Member Posts: 1,834 ✭
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    Happy birthday.  My big 65 is coming up next month and I will celebrate - but probably with a baked cheesecake.  Savouries are my usual 'naughty' as I am not a 'sweet tooth'.  I agree - all the additives/pesticides we get on a daily basis are a real worry.  For me this is mainly in the fruits and vegetables.  This is probably the worst for everyone but the world is now what it is and things will never go back.  I do manage to get free range eggs (I am sure of them as I know the farmer) and chicken (IF what the package says is correct).  I eat mostly fresh foods and few packaged goods.  Stress 'could' be the big trigger for me with many occurrences during my life, beginning with a bad childhood.
  • Karen1909
    Karen1909 Member Posts: 10 ✭
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    Hi Ladies
    I wish I could be well informed and philosophical and help you all, however I know I drank too much before diagnosis...all relative...you know, work pressure, too tired, stressed out at work,etc etc few glasses after work to feel better....post treatment, I feel quite sick if I have more than 3 glasses a night now and that is pushing it...I usually just have 1 or if its a special occasion have 2. But I have to say its really hard when everyone is drinking and you are sitting on 1 wine. i get quite agitated now when I'm in those situations. so i now limit my social alcohol  activity or I say cos of the cancer I cant drink!!! Usually people accept that. If I thought i could live on twigs and water I would. But Ive bought a new healthy eating cook book and exercising more than I have in years, so trying to balance my life.
    Love to you all
    K

  • Kombigirl
    Kombigirl Member Posts: 47 ✭
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    After reading this, I tried to find an alcoholic that has breast cancer, and so, as I do, I googled it. Google said it had 0 results. Really!! But plenty of results popped up on: if we have one glass of alcohol, it increases the risk of BC. I wonder what that means? Maybe we are not drinking enough?
  • melclarity
    melclarity Member Posts: 3,507 ✭
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    This came across on social media in light of the latest finding

    National Breast Cancer Foundation Alcohol Consumption and Survival after a Breast Cancer Diagnosis: A Literature-Based Meta-analysis and Collaborative Analysis of Data for 29,239 Cases
    Published online March 2014

    Considering the totality of the evidence, moderate postdiagnosis alcohol consumption is unlikely to have a major adverse effect on the survival of women with breast cancer.

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