alcohol and bc risk

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  • SoulSista
    SoulSista Member Posts: 6
    edited November 2011

    This is taken from Breastcancer.org says section that we got with the latest case study.  It sounds like breast cancer risk and recurrence are the same risk the way it's written.

    "If you want to do everything you can to lower your risk of breast cancer (or breast cancer coming back), drinking two drinks or fewer per week makes sense."

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited November 2011

    SoulSista - I don't think those studies apply to us since the study populations consist of those who have not been diagnosed.  Can't answer the recurrence vs new cancer question, and those of us who have been diagnosed have so many different kinds of BC, some of us can use suppressive meds and others can't so it makes it hard to quantify a single answer.  I think that is why the 34% increase in risk with more than 5 drinks per week statistic that I mentioned above was interesting - it was aimed at BC patients/survivors, and coming from an NCI designated cancer center.  It was a statistic specifically for us.

  • beepbeep
    beepbeep Member Posts: 84
    edited November 2011

    i wouldn't give too much credibility to these "risk factors". they say having your first child after 30 raises your risk but my mother had her first at 26 and still got cancer. most women with breast cancer i've known had children before 30. there's no rhyme or reason to cancer... especially at the young age you got it (so glad you are ok!).

    i'm not a drinker and i'm trying to avoid things that "may" contribute to higher estrogen levels to be on the safe side (i.e., hormonal birth control). but i don't believe for one second that someone  younger than 35 could cause cancer by drinking. that doesn't make sense. too many drinkers don't get cancer so that point could never really be valid.

  • beepbeep
    beepbeep Member Posts: 84
    edited November 2011

    even when it comes to family history, reports contradict themselves. many medical experts will say that most women with breast cancer (70-80%) have no family history... but then say that family history can double or triple your risk. which is it? i dont know if you mistyped but i think the studies say that it raises the risk 15% not 51%. dont want you thinking the # is that high!!

    take care everyone. like the breast cancer org site says... people who  are already high risk are more apt to do everything to avoid raising that risk further. i'm avoiding alcohol and birth control pills to be on the safer side but i know i could still get it just because of my family... and i also know that alcohol and ocp's are not the biggest risks. one thing i won't do is force myself to have a kid before 30 just because it *might* lower my risk.

  • SoulSista
    SoulSista Member Posts: 6
    edited November 2011

    SpecialK - Thanks for the info on that study!  I will keep my wine to 5oz a day and no more than 5 days/wk!  It's nice to see a study that focuses on recurrence specifically.

  • CameoBarbie
    CameoBarbie Member Posts: 125
    edited November 2011

    Hi Ladies and MODS:

    The name of that documentary is " The Education of DeeDee Ricks" and is a 2011 production.  She becomes an advocate for BC.  It's on again.  I guess I'm bothered by other documentaries where the ladies are wearing bandanas and so tired, and she is having a champagne party at a Ralph Klein spa.  Hello.

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