Drinking Habits Pre BC

ck55
ck55 Member Posts: 346
edited June 2014 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

Hello All, Just wondering about drinking habits before diagnosis. I have always loved my wine (still do Embarassed) and since I remember reading somewhere on these boards that drinking was worse for ILC I thought it would be interesting to know how many of us were regular drinkers?

It just seems that we probably all know someone who led the perfectly healthy life (good body weight, non drinkers, regular exercisers, healthy eaters) and still developed IDC/ILC. So who knows?

Care to share?

Cyndi

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited April 2013

    I partied hearty in my 20s.  Maybe not compared to some folks I know, but I would say I had my share of alcohol.  When I learned to appreciate wine, I drank it exclusively...minus the occasional port or cognac or single malt scotch a few times/year after a big dinner.

    I still drink my wine.

    My twin sister also partied...some times even with me.  In her 40's, she became a born-again....and stopped drinking.  Now in her 50s, I think she has an occasional glass of wine.  She used to have martinis in her 30s; after work/before dinner/destressor type of thing....no cancer.

    My DH's ex took HRT AND is a recovering alcoholic....she is in her 70s now and still cancer free.

    I have another friend who really likes her wine and also did HRT for a few years...in her 60s and cancer free.

    CRAP SHOOT!

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  • ck55
    ck55 Member Posts: 346
    edited April 2013

    You know wallycat I really do think it is all a crap shoot! I am just do damn tired of feeling guilty about relaxing with my wine with friends. Drinking is a big part of most our get togethers.

    That is very interesting about your DH's ex and her alcoholism. I have often wondered if, as a group, there is a higher incidence in alcoholics (male or female). Wonder if there are any studies out there about this.

    Thanks for your response, Cyndi

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited April 2013

    I don't know if there is a specific study for that, but I can search pubmed to see if there are any peer reviewed articles.

    I don't socialize much any more, but wine is a food to me and I have it with dinner and initially, I did feel guilty and I did wonder if I "gave" myself the cancer.  Truth be told, maybe alcohol does contribute to higher rates, but maybe it requires a specific genetic make up and who of us knows WHAT that is let alone IF WE have it....

    I used to tell my patients...make changes that you will not regret if you find out they did nothing for you.  I mean, I was all for explaining "the right things" to do, but it came down to some folks being eager to embrace things while others went kicking and screaming all the way. 

    When it came time for me to analyze how I eat, exercise, drink, ect...I told myself that I enjoy wine.  I personally think it confers benefits.  Yes, alcohol is a toxic poison in excess, but it also provides a lot of valuable benefits.  For me, if I gave up my nightly wine with dinner and the cancer came back or I was dx with stage 4 or had x amount of time to live, I would be LIVID that I gave up something that gave me pleasure AND still ended up suffering.  Sadly, this sort of thing is hindsight.  We can't know if it will or won't affect us, but as you said, there are so many people "doing all the right things" and still end up here that I am unwilling to take away what pleases me.

    I exercise less.  I still have my wine.  I am taking less vitamins.  I am meditating more.

    I hope they find a cure so that we don't have to beat ourselves up for something that is, currently, out of our control.

    p.s. there is an alcohol thread on the clinical/research part here and I posted two posts from a medical oncologist..one of which says that yes, alcohol increases risk of developing breast cancer but after the dx, women who drank actually lived longer.  They can't explain why.........

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited April 2013

    Non-drinker since 1985 (we served champagne at our wedding 30 years ago) but I don't judge those who do imbibe. All things in moderation. Wisconsin culture & social life tends to revolve around alcohol so it stands out when you don't partake. 

    When our cancer support group went out for dinner at a local microbrewery, a number of ladies enjoyed their favorite cocktail! One of the items our leader likes to put in a "care basket" is a small bottle of wine: she was diagnosed decades ago... 

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited April 2013

    VLNRPH, *waving*...

    god how I miss my wisconsin.  I lived in Waukesha...then "the east side" and then brookfield when I married DH.

    I miss it sooooooooooo much.

    Curious who your surgeon and onco are.....

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  • kar123
    kar123 Member Posts: 273
    edited April 2013

    Hi guys,

    Did anyone see this yet?   http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/09/alcohol-may-improve-breast-cancer-survival/

    Until they can agree, I'm going with this study.  That's a lot of women over a pretty long period of time.  I did not see who funded it however.

    Cheers to you all!

    Kelli

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  • ck55
    ck55 Member Posts: 346
    edited April 2013

    Kelli,  Thanks for the link. Love the results of that study!!!!!

    Cheers

    Cyndi


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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2013

    Here's the BC.org thread where we talked about this already-- in the clinical trials/news topic.

    I limit my alcohol intake because when I stopped, I lost 8 lbs in two weeks.  Since leaner is better (for those of us post-meno and post dx), I have stopped nearly all alcohol because it helps me keep my BMI below 20. 

    But I will, and not feel guilty, have an occasional glass. I love my wine.

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