Alcohol did you give up?
Comments
-
Like others alcohol gave me up during treatment. I now have an occasional beer if I feel like one. I hope you deleted those well meaning friends messages .... Don't stress over it, if its helping at the moment go for it. You will settle once you know your treatment plan. I just don't get these recommendations to reduce your risk of cancer, they don't add up!! We had a young man I knew that was an alcolholic, I suppose, started very early (teenager) in life. I believe he only drinks beer - all day - nothing else. Probably has never seen a vege in his life (slight exaggeration, but food is not important to him). He is now 65yrs old. He is not healthy, but not bedridden or hospitalised. He has never had cancer, for all I know he might outlive me ....
2 -
Sounds like his pickling on the inside is keeping him going!! There is no rhyme or reason. We all know someone who has smoked to a ripe old age and the ravages of smoking haven't caught up with them!
It's about you, it's about what you're comfortable with. As most have said once you start treatment you may not have the want for an alcoholic beverage and then when you do you may decide that doesn't taste how I remember it to be. Problem with wine in particular is lack of labelling so do you really know what you are drinking apart from the % proof?
1 -
Hi Kombigirl, hope your appointment went o.k today.
Regarding alcohol
I didnt have chemo so alcohol still tastes the same as ever to me. I never really liked the taste at all, the effects are more the point for me. However, I dont enjoy it as much now because I feel guilty like I shouldnt be drinking. I have cut down my drinking, and I dont drink spirits at all any more. I only started partying when the kids left home and I had already grown bored with it and started cutting down just before I was diagnosed.
I doubt whether it caused my cancer , but Im trying to be "good" to theoretically lower the chances of recurrence and for my health in general. I also find drinking worsens my hot flushes so thats a good reason to do less of it. But I wouldnt like other people telling me how to live my life, thats for sure.1 -
I gave up drinking from diagnosis but after all chemo done I love my drink now I have a few about 3 times a week I no naughty me2
-
I stopped completely when I went through my chemo and now live by the 'drink less but better quality' policy. The evidence does seem to be coming in strongly that it is something that we can do and control as individuals to improve our chances of recovery and I console myself with the thought that i will have more money to spend on clothes (once I've got back into working consistently and paid off my medical bills that is..)!2
-
Thank You @Kombigirl for putting this post up, I have so much guilt over drinking alcohol post treatment. I didn't drink through chemo/radiation for the same reason as the others - taste buds couldn't stand it. My taste in alcohol definatley changed and I can't handle it like before, but I still enjoy a drink or two. Now I just don't feel as bad knowing there are others.3
-
I am the daughter of an alcoholic and chose to not drink in my teens but I still got breast cancer at 63 most likely from very high dose HRT in my early 40s. I do note however there was an international breast cancer report released in May that said drinking alcohol increases your chances of recurrence.IMO each must make make their own call .0
-
Hi
i was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago and started chemo last Thursday. I used to have wine every night with dinner and I was like you when first diagnosed and couldn't contemplate stopping.
The night before my first cheno I didn't have any and I actually have had none since even though it was my usual habit,
i just don't feel like it and I'm too tired!!
Even today 1 1/2 weeks later I'm exhausted
Putting my body first for a while
good luck !!2 -
Well here's something to ponder, my Mum had Breast Cancer at 40, she drank heavily and NEVER saw it again, she was 26 years free, she passed away unrelated. I got Breast Cancer at 43, not genetic, I didnt drink post diagnosis and I had a recurrence!!! at 47, so that blows that theory LOL. Honestly ladies, I probably have a wine once a month purely as treatment killed it for me, I love it when I enjoy a few glasses and I certainly don't worry that its going to cause a recurrence at all. Its all about moderation, alcohol in general they'll tell you isnt good for you, BC is no different to anything else. Regardless of what studies say, they really dont have enough evidence and that came from many specialists at the Epworth Hospital. x0
-
Here is a summary of the report I read if anyone is interested .10:00 AM - May 25, 2017
Even 1 drink per day can increase women's breast cancer risk, study finds
Drinking one alcoholic beverage daily can increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, while engaging in vigorous exercise can decrease breast cancer risk, according to a report released Tuesday.
Here are the tactics to improve the timeliness of cancer care
Report details
For the report, published by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund, researchers reviewed 119 studies on the effects of diet, nutrition, and physical activity on breast cancer. Overall, the researchers evaluated international data on more than 12 million women and more than 260,000 cases of breast cancer.
To evaluate the link between breast cancer and alcohol consumption, the researchers analyzed 10 large cohort studies involving 4,000 pre-menopausal women who were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 22 large cohort studies involving 35,000 post-menopausal women who were diagnosed with breast cancer.
Findings
According to the report, daily consumption of about 10 grams of alcohol—the equivalent of one small glass of beer, wine, or other alcohol—is linked to a 5 percent increase in breast cancer risk among pre-menopausal women, and a 9 percent increase in breast cancer risk among post-menopausal women. According to "To Your Health," standard alcoholic drinks contain about 14 grams of alcohol.
In contrast, researchers found that engaging in vigorous physical activity was associated with reduced breast cancer risk. According to the report, participating in vigorous physical activity was linked with a 17 percent decrease in breast cancer risk among pre-menopausal women and a 10 percent decrease in breast cancer risk among post-menopausal women.
The researchers also found that breastfeeding is linked with a decreased risk of developing breast cancer. Further, the researchers found a link between obesity during ages 18 to 30 and lower breast cancer risk in pre-menopausal women. However, obesity beyond age 30 was linked with an increased risk of post-menopausal breast cancer, according to the report.
In addition, the researchers found limited evidence showing a link between a decrease in breast cancer risk and consumption of:
- Dairy products;
- Foods containing carotenoids, such as apricots, carrots, and kale; and
- Non-starchy vegetables.
Comments
Anne McTiernan, a lead author on the report and a researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, said the findings suggest "there is no level of alcohol use that is completely safe in terms of breast cancer." But, she added, "If a woman is drinking, it would be better if she kept it to a lower amount" in regard to breast cancer risk.
Chin-Yo Lin, a researcher at the University of Houston who was not involved with the report, said there are various reasons alcohol and breast cancer risk could be linked, including that "alcohol is converted into acetaldehyde, a chemical that can cause mutations in DNA, which can potentially lead to cancer" in exposed tissues. Lin said several "studies have shown that alcohol can enhance the actions of estrogen in breast cancer cells."
Kathryn Ruddy, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, said the evidence is "very clear that vigorous exercise protects against the development of breast cancer, and alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer, but the data are much more limited regarding the impact of any particular food on risk." Ruddy added that "there will be additional studies forthcoming to further clarify optimal strategies for [cancer] prevention."
Jennifer Ligibel, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School who was not involved with the report, said the findings' suggestion that obesity during young adulthood is linked with decrease breast cancer risk should not deter women from considering the other risks associated with obesity, such as Type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of cancer recurrence (McGinley, "To Your Health," Washington Post, 5/23; Howard, CNN, 5/23;Bowerman/Rossman, USA Today, 5/23; American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund report, May 2017).
0 -
I put the summary up purely for information not to be an incendiary- I respect others choices0
-
What I'd be more concerned about is anything in the medical cocktail clashing with alcohol and causing a reaction.
I hope you're doing okay. 0 -
I'm stage 4 - never drank very much - a couple of glasses here and there. Don't drink very much now since diagnosis. It's a matter of opinion. Like the other ladies, it depends on the mood, the day, the tastebuds etc. They talk about heavy drinking as opposed to one every day.
Do what you feel comfortable with.0 -
Yes. All you can do is to do what you feel is best for you. Hope fully all the research will one day "fine tune" and we will have more definite ideas on what causes it.1
