Have you given up alcohol?

littlechicken

I've pretty much stopped drinking since my bc and was wondering what others are doing. Have you changed your drinking habits? 

sueshane

I haven't stopped drinking although I swear my tolerance is low while on Tamoxifen. I will be curious to read other people's comments.

 

Lenn13ka

Good subject Little Chicken- some MO's say nothing and others scare the hell out of you with this risk factor.

I have cut way back but still enjoy some wine, champagne and the occasional Margarita. I have gone all organic, pretty much given up meat, getting my BMI down to 23, lost 11 pounds, walk at least 4-5 miles per day... I am not going to totally give up social drinking. I love socializing with family and friends .. That is part of living life for me. My tolerance is also lower on Tamoxifen like sueshane, but that's OK.. 

Alive4Five

Actually, I had already quit for some time before DX. 

I LOL'd  not long ago; thinking how in the World I would be with such chemo-brain and if I were still drinking!!

Can't say I miss it either. 

(Pretty sure my kids are glad I don't anymore either, lol... it would just give them ammo to rib me about! 

rozem

social drinking here, mainly a glass or two of wine on the weekends, and not every weekend.  Maybe 2x month.  I don't like beer or spirits so wine only

my onc said no more than 1 drink a day and you cant save it up and have 7 on Saturday.  I think recent studies have shown the fewer the better in terms of survival

Laurais50

Totally, I couldn't imagine drinking right now. I can't even eat, but don't get me wrong if I could tolerate it I might indulge once in a while. And I just stated chemo last Fri.

rozem

laurie - I was the same way on chemo...I got my taste buds back and enjoy food and wine as much as always!

TB90

I have cut way back, but loved my wine and refuse to give it up completely.  A few glasses of wine on the weekends.  My tolerance is way down too, but not due to tamoxifen, but due to weight loss.  My BS is not too worried about alcohol consumption but my RO states one a day and if it was him, he would choose to not drink at all. 

Anonymous

My MO said I can have wine occasionally - and I do!

GrammyR

Yep, I stopped 2006 when 1st diagnosed. Have occasional glass of wine or  Baileys at special celebrations and don't miss it at all. Luckily my husband was a non drinker so supported me totally.

odie16

I actually didn't really drink prior to BC but now enjoy a wine cooler or two per week. My MO says it is fine in moderation so I don't worry about it. 

voraciousreader

I drink.  I think my risk of cardiac disease is greater than my risk of breast cancer recurrence.  My cardiologist told me to keep doing whatever it is I'm doing.  I walk 3 miles most days.  Enjoy a glass of wine.  Read most days... a lot!  Smile, laugh... try not to worry about what I should and should not do! Life is good!  Cheers!

NancyHB

I was just learning to love and appreciate wine (and top shelf liquor, thanks to my DIL), but I slowed to almost a stop when dx.  Part if it was weight control, the other part because it irritated my bowels during chemo.  I quit for good recently when dx'd with tachycardia as the alcohol irritates my heart.  I miss it - a lot - but it doesn't really like me anymore.  :-(

exbrnxgrl

I am not now, nor was I ever a big drinker but I find wine to be enjoyable with food or in social situations. I also enjoy a cocktail every now and then. I was stage IV almost from the beginning and have been NED since initial tx. Breast cancer has taken many things from me, I won't allow it to take away some of life's little pleasures.

SelenaWolf

I am a moderate drinker (mostly wine) and my MO told me that was fine.

Betty14

Hello..

            I had already quit alcohol many years prior to my dx because I found it aggravated my anxiety the next day. I used to enjoy my red wine and sometimes if I see someone sipping on a glass of red in a film or something I think it would be nice to enjoy one myself but then I say "nah". 
It feels like another life time that I drank wine....how strange.

cakes

Selena ~

I am a moderate wine drinker as well. I asked my MO if I should stop and was told "no…..take B-complex" as alcohol depletes it. Sounds good to me. If I were told to quit……I would. 

I love your tag "good girls never made history". I had t-shirts made for my friends and daughter with that phrase on them. LOL!

MsPharoah

Good thread!  I selected my oncologist because she said I could still drink wine occassionally while my second opinion said "No way".  Of course wine tasted like spit on chemo, so I didn't partake anyway while on chemo.    But I do have an occassional cocktail, wine or beer now.  Probably 2 drinks a week and I refuse to stop.  Breast cancer took away my sense of well being, it better keep its paws off my booze. 

MsP

GwennyMD

I gave up alcohol during chemo.  However I was never a big drinker.  I am primarily a social drinker.I prefer a sweet wine or an occasional "girlie" drink.  I am trying to eat better and to signficantly reduce the amount of chemicals and processed foods I consume.

edwards750

I didn't give up drinking either but then again I don't drink much. I am not a wine drinker - gives me a headache and I loved my vodka Collins but now its pretty much Corona or Blue Moon or Stella beer and I drink those only when DH and I go out. Most of the articles I have read say to cut back on alcohol but you don't have to totally abstain. Individual choice. My sister in law had DCIS 6 years ago. She drank during that time and consumes a lot now; mostly wine. She was always a big wine drinker even before her DX. To each his own.

Diane

elimar86861

No, my habits have not changed.

My thinking about alcohol (as well as the many drugs that come along with BC) is that my liver doesn't need all the extra work and I am always looking for ways to minimize the substances as much as possible and give it a break.  Call me over-protective.  I'm just funny that way.

lmcclure4477

I was told by my MO to consume no more then 2 alcoholic beverages a week. I used to be a big drinker and drink mostly beer. Now I only drink one day a week and only 2-3 glasses of wine. Some weekends I'll have 2 glasses of wine both days. I figure you gotta live!!

carol57

My MO responded to my question about drinking with 'Are you asking me if you think you'll live longer if you stop drinking alcohol?' Yes, I responded-that's what I'm asking. 'Well,' she said, 'probably not; it will just SEEM like you're living longer.'

cakes

Oh carol57….that is so funny! Thanks for the laugh today, I needed that.

doxie

I want Carol's MO.  

I specifically chose not to ask my MO.  I've read the literature.  For a couple of years I was very good about not drinking.  Now since I cannot have NSAIDs and I take the gin and golden raisin home remedy for pain, why not a little more gin?  It seems to be working.  Or I'm deluding myself, which is fine because even if it's only in my head, I like what is there.  The pain is less.

placid44

I quit altogether.  I have read and heard that reducing or eliminating alcohol is good for TNBC. For me, alcohol is one of the few (alleged) risk factors that I can control, so I felt better quitting. I am not doing as well with the weight loss, but ok. I have 25 lb. to lose.

Alive4Five

hmmm, well placid, maybe I should reconsider starting again..goodness knows I 'need' a couple of extra pounds!

With all the sweets and goodies I eat, I 'should' be as big as my fridge LOL!

TB90

Carol57:  Sign me up for your MO too!  I am now using that line along with Selena's, "Wine is what separates us from the other species!"  Love them both.  I have been resisting, but am now going to have that glass of wine!  It is gorgeous out and the deck is beckoning me, but as it is not yet the weekend, feel guilty to have a glass.  Damn that guilt that bc has created.   

littlechicken

placid44- You're not alone. I gave up the booze but can't seem to drop any weight! It's beyond frustrating. 

Trisha-Anne

I was a social drinker before bc, maybe a drink every couple of months, but can't stand the taste of it now.  I do think every now and then, it would be nice to enjoy a glass of white, but can't even get past the smell now lol

dwill

Don't care too much for sweets, candy, etc., but do love a couple glasses of white semi-dry wine a couple times a week before bedtime.  My doctor thinks it is okay and it is the one comfort I do not want to give up.