More Evidence to Link Between Risk and Drinking Alcohol

Wildplaces

Traveltext,

I lost my palate during chemo late last year and it's only starting to come back - one of the guys I work with asked about my hair as summer was finishing - and I remember saying - hair, who cares about hair I can't bloody taste anything... but that I still me. Now I am curly and the nose is struggling back.

I agree you get much better value in reds down here and some cracking wines to be had at very savy prices. I suggested because it is a single grape, I was given a bottle and it is nice ☺️...

If I get lucky again I am willing to group share - we are already having a virtual trip to Seattle for the wild mushroom omlette...

Traveltext

sbelizabeth, Thanks for those kind words. I found this site when I was searching for information on IBC three years ago and I've never left because the regulars here are such a great bunch of women. And I've met two men that I've become friends with. I also get so much out of learning from and helping others, and from the fellowship of hanging out with people that "get" the nuances of this disease. Funnily enough, I don't think much about the gender thing. While bringing a male perspective is interesting, and I certainly want to persuade the pink charities to put guys into the bc picture, I have the same hopes and fears that we all do and want to gain more strength to carry Moving forward. I also blog with guys on prostate cancer, but apart from talk on incontinence and impotence, they don't have a lot of other stuff to say, not withstanding the paramount importance of these two topics 😀 But, unfortunately, oenophiles are thin on the ground!

Wildplaces, I remember losing my palate and how bad wine tasted. I thought, this is the worst side-effect of all! I agree that there are many great value reds around, but when/if you get another bottle of that sparkler, I'll propose a toast all our good health.

Claire_in_Seattle

Oh my!!! St Emilion Grand Cru 1998. A girl can dream. That said, my friend Paul Beveridge makes a really mean estate Melange Noir for a whole lot less. Just checked out this year's crop of grapes and they are doing fine. Not to mention his 2015 Malbec.

Of course, my everyday wine isn't nearly as fine. But I may need to break out a wine club bottle when I whip up my mushroom risotto to use up the various dried mushrooms I have been gathering in my apartment.

I wish I could share a well-catered picnic experience at the new tasting room in Woodinville. It overlooks the Chateau (as in St Michelle) and a verdant valley. They have the most divine garden, or you can share a bottle on their terrace.

That is what I call living, and no, not about to give this up. - Claire

(Alternatively, I may do a stop at Snoqualmie Brewing for some good microbrew ....short detour from the route of the ride I am planning for Sunday. About 30 miles in and close to the end of the ride, I should be starting to get thirsty )

Meow13

Claire, I haven't been to Woodinville st michelle since the train stopped.

mollymiller

Thank you!!!!! I am a 67 years old breast cancer patient, now beginning Arimidex therapy after Lumpectomy and axillary node dissection in January 2017 and then 32 radiation treatments. I decided against chemotherapy because the advantage was not much better than the radiation and Arimidex. I am not a social drinker. I drink every single day and I am not planning on stopping. It's what calms me down in the evening. It has for 30 some years and I admit that it may have caused my breast cancer ~ But at age 67, I will take the risk. I have read that alcohol consumption after BC treatments and while on Arimidex do not necessarily cause a recurrence of BC although it may create problems with other kinds of cancer. I am scared enough that I can't even imagine ending my alcohol use. I am that anxious and worried about my diagnosis ~ Yep. I can give up smoking (never smoked) and stop coffee (1 cup a day) and try to improve my diet, up my exercise and keep my weight down....But I am a drinker and a breast cancer patient. My decision, even though it may sound foolish.

Bluebirdgirl

Mollymiller, too bad there isn't a "like" button on here! Cheers!!

YazMar74

Ladies, I'm a bit late but I have to say that I was feeling very guilty about my wine and after reading this thread - I texted my husband to have a bottle ready and chilled for me when I get home. I was reecently diagnosed at 42 Stage 1 getting ready for my second surgery - next week. Before my DX I was healthy as a horse, a fitness freak working out 5-6 days a week and an excellent diet. I never got a cold, allergies, headache fevers nothing! - and BOOM ... found in routine screening. I do have family history but genetic testing where negative - so at the end of the day, IF you have BOOBs, you can get breast cancer, period. I think we are responsible for taking care of our bodies as best as we can, but we also need to enjoy those things that make us happy!

Cheers!

MTwoman

I'm late to the party as well, but you'll have to pry the bottle from my very cold fingers. A lovely glass of wine is a QOL issue to me, and a good toddy now again is also a part of my life. Not giving it up. Not. Ever. I am an avid cook, and planning/cooking lovely meals has been something that has gotten me through some tough times. Picking out what wine would go best with my cooking efforts is just part of the whole experience. I grew up in the South, and not having a toddy ready (and some sort of appetizer with it) for folks who come to visit was just not done.

I lived in Europe for quite a while and hiking from castle to castle drinking a glass at each stop, or hiking around the wine areas of Baden, or Burgundy or Provence and ending at a tasting room has been a wonderful part of my life that I remember fondly. I'll not have a small increased risk take those types of experiences from me.

Crap shoot is right. I was 38 at diagnosis and I'm not going to let bc dictate the rest of my life.

Cheers!

Claire_in_Seattle

One other thing I will add to this discussion. I am thinking of someone I once worked for in my corporate days who I think did himself in with alcohol (plus smoking and other lifestyle factors). You never called him prior to 10a because he wasn't functioning until then. He covered it very well and his staff covered for him. I am convinced that it was alcohol that caused the stomach cancer he eventually died from. What for me was amazing was that he lasted as long as he did.

I don't think that this meta-analysis is anywhere near this conclusive. It points to a slightly greater risk.

I was struck also by the size of the liquor bottles when I went to replace my Boodles the other day. Although I love the odd gin and tonic, I buy hard liquor in fifths and normally replace no more than once per year. I do drink wine, but nothing on the order of what my former boss consumed.

Like MTwoman, I think that a good dinner requires wine, and I am a gourmet cook. Last night's dinner was fishcakes from steelhead trout I had leftover and local asparagus. I served it with a good Riesling.

Need to get rolling as slept in this morning. I have the Geek Squad on the agenda to get to the bottom of my email issue, and they failed in their first attempt. Tomorrow, I am doing a long training ride of 60 miles and next Saturday, I am doing a cycling event called the Tour de Blast, which will have breathtaking views of Mount St Helens.

That is my story, and I'm sticking to it. - Claire

MTwoman

Steelhead trout fishcakes sound heavenly, and the pairing with a nice Riesling is perfect! I do miss spargel (local white asparagus we could buy in Europe). My evening meal, after a nice hike, will consist of a Mexican style salad (avocado, grilled corn, salsa, home-made pickled onions, spicy elk/beef etc. over lettuce) and that calls for a margarita (with fresh lemon and lime juice)!!

Have a lovely weekend!

ChiSandy

I grilled some grass-fed hanger steaks, Vidalia onion slices and asparagus last night, and baked a sweet potato. Rather than finish the Grenache I had Coravin’ed (little more than a glass remaining, and I’m sure Bob would want more), we opened a 2014 Cabernet from the Maipo Valley of Chile. I had about 4 oz., and it was perfect—it lasted as long as my steak.

MTwoman

Mmmmm! ChiSandy, a good bit of steak with a nice red is ever so scrumptious!

Traveltext

The good thing about not drinking much wine is that I can afford better wine. Good wine can be sipped and enjoyed with nice food. In fact, enjoyed while preparing said nice food.

I get it that there is a causal link between alcohol and a whole raft of other substances we ingest, but I also believe that QoL is a psychological factor in keeping my cancers at bay.

Claire_in_Seattle

All of you have talked me into it. I'm defrosting the steak, and pulling a bottle of good wine for dinner.

The wine is Wilridge 2013 Malbec, which I can now do knowing that the 2015 is even better! I still have asparagus that I need to use and cooked sweet potatoes a couple of days ago. I am also quite peckish as cycled 60 miles today.

My training is paying as only a bit tired post ride as opposed to seriously knackered. Think I will be fine for the Tour de Blast next Saturday, and also the BIG RIDE in 5 weeks.

Other news is that my email problem on my other computer (this is my work one) turned out to be a wonky hard drive. So my new computer should arrive Tuesday. Hope to have all my technology woes behind me....at least for a bit. - Claire