Can I have a "normal" vacation? Temporary alcohol consumption

Options
MinnesotaBarb
MinnesotaBarb Member Posts: 46
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer
Can I have a "normal" vacation? Temporary alcohol consumption
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • MinnesotaBarb
    MinnesotaBarb Member Posts: 46
    edited February 2011

     I am struggling with an upcoming vacation concern. Lucky me, 9 months out from date of diagnosis...an all-inclusive for a week at a resort in Mexico with my husband and another couple!

    My therapist suggested developing a vacation eating and drinking plan which makes great sense, but I am struggling. If you would consider looking at my struggle below and offering your thoughts, I would appreciate the input. What is my vacation plan?
     
    ·      To exercise at least 4 days (there is an exercise center and I will bring an exercise DVD that I use at home).
    ·      To bring a few bars of good dark chocolate (I can turn down soft serve and junk desserts so armed.)
    ·      To eat healthfully, for the most part, for breakfast and lunch.
    ·      To eat what I want for dinner—somewhat healthfully, but not depriving myself.
    ·      Alcohol consumption--?????
     
    Alcohol. I can turn down cheap alcohol, no problem. But, what if they have good wine, good gin, and make good mojitos? If I eat for a week, I can go back to eating better once I am home. Unless I really pig out in a week, I don’t think it is the end of the good eating habits. Alcohol might be a different story in a different way…(not worried about alcoholism or long-term changes)
     
    If I drink 5-6 drinks per day on vacation, it IS an all-inclusive, I also can go back to 1-2 drinks on weekends once I am home, BUT have I harmed myself in one week? Would this bring the cancer back? What if I drink 3 drinks a day for 7 days? What if I drink 2-3 drinks per day except for one day when I have 5-6 drinks “like a normal person on vacation,” would that be harmful? Does anyone really know?
     
    How can I balance the unknown potential harm from alcohol and the accompanying anxiety and guilt against wanting to relax and enjoy my vacation “normally”?
     
    How can I balance the feeling of deprivation from healthier, that is, less alcohol consumption against wanting so badly just to feel and be “normal” on vacation?

    What is the right amount for my plan?

    I don't know the answer and I don't want to go without a safe yet hopefully happy plan!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited February 2011

    Decided to reply since no one answered… and I think it's because we really don't know. Did you consider asking your onc. I find it hard to believe that drinking a few extra drinks one week will make a difference but 5-6 might be a lot. There are women out there that drink and remain NED. No one really knows with this disease especially since everyone is so different.

    I have never been much of a drinker (not even sure if I drink 10 glasses of wine a year) I'm thin, exercise/active, no family history, eat relatively healthy/low fat diet, in good health and still got the disease. Who knows maybe my trigger is chocolate and suger.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2011

    Y know, I asked the nutritionist at the cancer center about this and she said most of the alcohol studies are based over a long time.

    Still if you think about it, 5-6 drinks a day for 7 days is almost 6 months of 2 drinks a week.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited February 2011

    I don't think one week is going to make or break your future.  I agree check with your onc.  But I'll be honest and say if it was me- I would drink and eat what I wanted for the most part. If I didn't I would probably be irritated that I couldn't do what I wanted the whole time and that it was another way that cancer was changing my life. 

    Again this is just an opinion- I have been known to be wrong before.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • karen333
    karen333 Member Posts: 3,697
    edited February 2011

    I agree with Laurie, dinner and drinks like I was before bc, check with onc first.  If he/she had no objection, I'd go for it, it's only a week, and you get to act like you are truly on a vacation.  Karen

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited February 2011

    Odd but I finished chemo 4.5 weeks ago. No one has ever told me what not to eat. Only my PS pushed eating things like berries especially blueberries.

    Never any talk about no alcohol, sugar or tofu. Granted I am not overweight (according to them) and they did ask about my alcohol consumptions which is like 4-10 glasses of wine a year at the most.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 407
    edited February 2011

    Excellent suggestion .. better to be safe than sorry.   Speak with your Oncologist!    Such a loaded discussion, and decision!  

    Let us know .. the outcome ..

    Vicki Sam 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MinnesotaBarb
    MinnesotaBarb Member Posts: 46
    edited February 2011

    I am back from a wonderful vacation. Thank you for all the good ideas and perspectives. I checked with my medical onocologist, my radiation oncologist, and my oncology therapist before I left. All were more concerned that I simply relax and enjoy my vacation rather than count drinks.

    What did I do? It varied. Some days 2 drinks, some a few more, one day, well, a lot more. I laughed more during that 7 days than I had in the previous 7 months. I think that was the important part.

     It was hard to come back at the end, including coming back to recovery from breast cancer...

    Thank you again for all the advice!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited February 2011

    So glad you had a good vacation!  You certainly deserved it.  Also glad you had a few drinks.  Maybe your posting will make it easier for some others to relax and enjoy some alcohol in moderation.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories