Alcohol did you give up?
Hi everyone, Tomorrow I meet my specialists and get my formal diagnosis. At this stage all I know is I have BC with lymph node involvement. Anyway I'm a every night red wine drinker and I am getting...
Forum Discussion
I had actually stopped drinking a few months before diagnosis. About 9 months previous to diagnosis I went through an extremely stressful time. Alcohol became my way of getting through that stress but I knew down deep that handling my stress in this way was not healthy. So I had made the decision to stop drinking and had developed new ways to relax in the months before diagnosis. I was a much happier person for that time.
Then whamo, diagnosis of Stage 3 breast cancer. I did have some moments of guilt about that period of heavier drinking (half bottle of wine every night) but I will never know if that was a factor in my getting breast cancer. But it is certainly a strong motivation to not drink now. I did have a few sips of champagne the Christmas after I finished my year of treatment but it just did not taste good to me. I have not had a drink since and I am now heading towards 5 years since diagnosis.
I think the important thing is not to look back. I can't change the past but I try to make the most of everyday now. Treatment was hard and I now do what I can to minimise the chance of recurrence. Not drinking is just one of those things. On the plus side it is easier to maintain a healthy weight and my arthritis has actually improved even though I am on anti-hormone therapy (which usually gives you more joint pain).
They cannot tell us exactly how alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer or breast cancer recurrence but for me the research is enough to not risk it. And I really don't think it was doing me any good. My life is definitely better without it. But that is me and my thoughts only. Each of us are different and what is best for me may not be best for everyone.
Wishing you all the best for your treatment. xxx
Then whamo, diagnosis of Stage 3 breast cancer. I did have some moments of guilt about that period of heavier drinking (half bottle of wine every night) but I will never know if that was a factor in my getting breast cancer. But it is certainly a strong motivation to not drink now. I did have a few sips of champagne the Christmas after I finished my year of treatment but it just did not taste good to me. I have not had a drink since and I am now heading towards 5 years since diagnosis.
I think the important thing is not to look back. I can't change the past but I try to make the most of everyday now. Treatment was hard and I now do what I can to minimise the chance of recurrence. Not drinking is just one of those things. On the plus side it is easier to maintain a healthy weight and my arthritis has actually improved even though I am on anti-hormone therapy (which usually gives you more joint pain).
They cannot tell us exactly how alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer or breast cancer recurrence but for me the research is enough to not risk it. And I really don't think it was doing me any good. My life is definitely better without it. But that is me and my thoughts only. Each of us are different and what is best for me may not be best for everyone.
Wishing you all the best for your treatment. xxx