Alcohol, moderate drinking??

I haven't really changed anything about my life! If there was something I was doing that was a known or proven cause then I'm sure I would. But I'm a pretty healthy person in general and have always been an "in moderation" sort. I don't think that anything I've done or haven't done contributed to me getting cancer therefore I don't think that changing things will make a difference.

I don't drink much - maybe a glass of wine or a beer once every week or two. The occasional Margarita thrown in for good measure. Cancer can't steal all my joys.

I have a glass of red wine with dinner every night. Sometimes I pause and reconsider; but mostly not. I exercise six days out of seven; eat no meat except fish; eat organic fruits and vegetables; take 2000 units vitamin D3 daily; etc. I think it’s unrealistic to think everyone is going to lead a perfectly “clean” lifestyle in every category. There is no guarantee in this whole cancer scenario. Make thoughtful decisions for yourself and move on the best you can to enjoy life.

I used to have glass/2 wine after work. (Sometimes more...my bad.) It was my signal to relax and I loved it. Gotta say. Post BC, I've cut way back -- limit to 3 a week, except on vacations. It's been not as hard as I imagined because it's brought my migraine level down to almost zero! Migraines and wine are a true deal. I was amazed by this, even though I tried to limit red wine and all that crapola before due to headaches. Boy.

Drinking is, maybe sorry to say, a part of MY culture. Glasses of wine/restaurant -- wine tastings -- beer with football game, travel to wine areas. I just can't see going with nothing, when there is some benefit to the heart from drinking, right? And what about QOL!?

This is all a crapshoot. I've increased by organic (when possible) veggie/fruit intake, doing more filtered H20, targeted supplements (did quite a bit of that before BC, so ho hum), reducing red meat intake (which I did not do much of before anyway), more exercise (I've never been overweight, so it was easy for me to be lazy here), less stress. Yada, yada, yada.

Hate worrying about each bite of occasional cake or wine/beer. Geez. That sucks.

For me it is easier to go without than just an occasional drink. This Thanksgiving I had much company spanned over several days. It was festive and everyone was drinking. I found that I was having two beers before dinner and then an after dinner drink so three per day. I must say now I miss it. That is how much I use to drink prior to my DX. If anything caused my BC I would guess my alcohol intact and high stress level. Gotta get back to abstinence but there is a lot here at the house. It is like sweets. If I don't have them in the house I don't miss them but when they are here I can't stop myself. Ugh, my will power sucks.

Dtad- he checks via blood. First time he checked was when I started getting Zoladex shots to suppress ovaries so I could go on AI's instead of Tamoxifen. He tested levels three weeks after first shot as he said he had to make sure I was suppressed before starting anastrozole or the AI's were useless. My MO said there used to be a time when oncologists wouldn't check estrogen levels after starting suppression until they figured out there's a percentage of women who cannot be suppressed. It's standard for him and he checks monthly. Had ooph two and half weeks ago and he just checked my levels again this past Friday and waiting for results. All results have been lowest detectable level.

Hi All

Leesa thanks for coming back to my question re oestrogen testing.

I'm getting mine done about every three months and it's done as oestradiol in blood and it's always undetectable. However there's a caveat to testing - many labs don't measure the very low levels of oestrogen so you may get an 'undetectable' result and that's only according to that lab. There may actually be low levels there. That said, if you are consistently 'undetectable' then worst case scenario you may have very low levels but they are clearly not peaking or they would become detectable. I'm having mine done every three months. I figure if one moderates alcohol, keeps exercising, and ensures oestrogen is a low as possible, that's a pretty good combination.

I've found since my LCIS diagnosis that I simply can't drink alcohol. I get the worst headache imaginable. I never used to be like this. So my body, seems to be regulating its alcohol intake itself.

Dtad - I'm being treated at Monter Cancer Center in New Hyde Park on Long Island. It's part of Northwell Health. Monter is an impressive facility and I'm very happy with my care and doctors.

Funny story. Every single time I have a medical appointment with a new doctor I am asked how much I drink and I say, "I'm from New Orleans! So two glasses of wine a night and I consider that moderate." No one has ever raised it as an issue. Then at my first MO appointment, when I said that she replied, "I'm European and I have no problem with that!"

So my overall take is that quality of life, cancer vs cardiovascular risks, etc. are important considerations. I do eat right, I exercise, I don't smoke, and since I'm going through radiation right now I have more protein than ever. So while I am trying to drink less, a glass of wine here or there seems inconsequential to me tho I do respect others' efforts to reduce risk any way we can.

My husband and I have a cocktail before dinner every evening. In hot weather we favor a martini, vodka for me, gin for him. In cold weather we have an old-fashioned, either bourbon or rye. And the cocktails are 3 oz. Two full shot classes of liquor. We also like wine. Some evenings we have a glass in addition to the cocktail.

I really enjoy my evening cocktail. It's the extra calories that concern me more than the cancer worries. I am 15 to 20 lbs overweight and struggle to lose weight. I blamed arimidex for the 5 years I took it, also blamed higher bp and cholesterol on arimidex. But my weight and health numbers didn't miraculously cure themselves when I stopped taking the little white pill. Alas! I guess I didn't factor in the reality of getting older.

DH and I go to the gym. I average three times a week and he averages two times. We both play golf. Twice a week for me in good weather and three times for him. The reverse of the gym! LOL!

I will be 75 in March. I visit my mother (95) in a nursing home several times a week and am shocked that some of the women residents are younger than I am. I take some meds but feel good.

It's good to talk to bc sister drinkers!

Hi, Minus. I saw you on another forum that I added to my Favorites today. A reading forum. I have been feeling in a rut lately and my brand of "branching out" is joining some new bc forums! I looked for a forum with political discussion and found that the moderators had shut those down.

Your spiked egg nog sounds delicious. I like egg nog but never buy it because of the calories. Isn't that sad? I am thinking that I will go back to WW meetings after Christmas. I subscribe to the online WW but it's like AA. You have to go to the meetings.

I just treated myself to a Sam Adams White Christmas beer! Oh my...sooo goood!

Cheers!🍺

I had the unfortunate outcome of chemo in that it fried my liver so I have not been able to drink for 15 years. It's amazing how much of our culture revolved around drinking. Oh, come on over for a glass of wine, or let's go beer or wine tasting, or drinks before, during and after dinner. Etc. I have a hard time having fun going wine tasting when I can't have any. People love to have me along at events so I can be the designated driver. I found a good non-alcohol beer at Trader Joe's, so many times I bring my own along. But this really isn't fun.