alcohol and breast cancer

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  • sespebadger
    sespebadger Member Posts: 249
    edited March 2011

    First time I've seen this thread.

    I'm done with active treatment now, just on lovely Tamoxifen. It mostly causes lack of energy problems. I'm drinking much more moderately than before diagnosis because I am scared of recurrence. So, I have a couple glasses of wine during the weekend and nothing during the week. I am amazed that people COULD drink during chemo. I felt so sick most of the time. Also I have found that when I drink alcohol my hot flashes are much worse. And they can be very unpleasant.

    Thank goodness for chocolate!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2011

    7 drinks raise recurrence 90% ??  That seems really high.

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  • sandymess
    sandymess Member Posts: 299
    edited March 2011

    I don't know what to think about all of this. There are so many conflicting reports. I think, like someone before posted, that moderation may be the key. I have also cut down to a couple--okay, a few--glasses of wine on the weekends. I agree that alcohol makes the hot flashes much, much worse. And I don't want to have a recurrence of this nasty cancer!

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited March 2011

    Grape juice......BLECH!!!!!  Obviously spoken by someone who doesn't like wine.

    I had a major think about this a year ago when I was finishing up chemo.  I didn't drink then (other than major swigs of Communion Wine) as wanted to give my poor liver a break.

    My decision was that wine is one of the supreme pleasures in my life.  I also saw Michelle Holmes' comments about overall survival being unaffected.  I don't want cancer, but I don't want heart disease either.  Much as we are focused on cancer, heart disease is the greater risk for most of us.

    Having said this, I do make sure I eat a reasonably healthy diet, exercise daily (with lots on the weekends), and keep my weight to something sensible.  And then make sure I enjoy the time I have on this earth.

    This includes drinking wonderful wine......and so many unique and delightful ones here in Seattle.

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  • sandymess
    sandymess Member Posts: 299
    edited March 2011

    You've made some good points, Claire. I like your attitude!

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited March 2011

    I still drink.   Probably shouldn't.   A drink or two a week.   Eh, I know many women who never touch alcohol that got BC, so who knows. 

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  • InTwoPlaces
    InTwoPlaces Member Posts: 354
    edited March 2011

    I love a good wine and I will not give it up.

    I decided to give up och sugar instead; no more snickers or ice-cream for me.

    But wine......can't give that up! Wink

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  • lynne66
    lynne66 Member Posts: 9
    edited March 2011

    I had to quit smoking to get reconstruction then after I had it I started again and I still drink; go pubs and clubs and the occasional 2-3 day bender just takes longer to recover, I also eat whatever I like I am a veggie tho for 25 years. I fully intend to enjoy the rest of my life no matter how long or short.  I'm not going to give up my pleasures for what might happen then probably get knocked over by a bus or something.  I'd rather live like a lion for a day than a sheep for a week.

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  • Jill42_fromUtah
    Jill42_fromUtah Member Posts: 8
    edited April 2011

    I love this string on alcohol consumption. My first question to the Pharmacist when he filled my Tamoxifen was how does this interact with alcohol? he said that the Tamoxifen is metabolized by the liver and so is the alcohol. So if, you have increased alcohol consumption the enzyme that your liver secretes to digest the Tamox and alchol is over stimulated, the drug might have a diminshed impact. I was ok with that statement, because i too am not willing to give up my wine. especially not now. I do not have the same desire for wine on the medication but that will not stop me from my nightly chardonnay! Cheers!!

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  • dawn31337
    dawn31337 Member Posts: 307
    edited April 2011

    I do drink, and probably more than most.  I've done worse things too.  I believe in anything in moderation, although I've probably overdone the moderation once or twice  :)   I am triple negative, and that doesn't seem to be alcohol related.  I did cut down while on chemo, but I did imbibe.  Never felt bad. I was 100% healthy before BC, and am again.  I think they say stay away from alcohol because the liver cleanses all of this poison they give us.  Party on.

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  • sam52
    sam52 Member Posts: 950
    edited April 2011

    I know there is a link between alcohol and breasts.....

    Long before bc dx, I always used to have a bottle of sherry in the house around Christmas. I would start drinking a couple of glasses on the run-up to the holidays.The next day,I would ALWAYS get really sore breasts, which was not related to the menstrual cycle.So definitely something going on there.My bet is on an increase of estrogen, since the breast tenderness was also something I would get just before a period.

    I did stop drinking any alcohol whilst having chemo, since I felt it was too high a load on my liver - but also because I really did not feel like it.

    Now I do enjoy a glass or two of wine occasionally, but feel slightly worried afterwards.....damn!

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  • M-JErickson
    M-JErickson Member Posts: 2
    edited April 2011

    I am an Alcoholic and a day before my 3rd year AA birthday on  4/01/2010 I got the news that I had DCIS and had to have a MX as I had 3 site in my L Breast.  Boy if I thought I deserved to drink that would of been the day I would of like a fine bottle of red wine, but that wouldn't of solved anything.  I made it through and now have 4 years as of 4/02/2011, I had both breast removed and reconstruction is completed and I am just waiting to get my tatoo's. 

    I am struggleing with a lot of discomfort, nerve zingers, arm pit pain, pectoral muscle pain and pain under my new breast where my skin is strectching, I would sure like to know if this will get better soon?

    My sister is also a alcoholic and she also had breast cancer, sooo????

    MJ Erickson 

      

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  • carollyn
    carollyn Member Posts: 70
    edited May 2011

    I need to ask this rather strange question;  does anybody experience severe pain in the neck and arm or chest lymph areas after consuming some vino?  Started as slight at first but has progressively gotten worse.  Yeah I know " well don't do that "!  My back of neck lymph area is always the worst.

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  • NSWTD
    NSWTD Member Posts: 210
    edited May 2011

    One has to consider the stats.....if 7 servings raises the risk of recurrence 90%, that may mean if your risk of recurrence without drinking was 2%, then with drinking it may now be 3.8%.   Is a 3.8% risk of recurrence a high risk, or low risk?  

    I am doing many things to be overall healthier.   I subscribe to everything in moderation.  I may sometimes indulge a little to heavily and if that happens, I just go back to be a little more healthy....heck if we stress about it, the stress will kill us too!   I would rather focus on good things and let the little slips go ......

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