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I am curious as to whether any of you have been given any guidance about having a drink or two or a glass of wine? I have been reading that sugar can feed the cancer and I know that alcohol turns to sugar but my Gyn/Onc has never said a word about diet or alcohol and you now have me wondering...
According to AntiCancer a glass of red wine with dinner is one of the things to keep it away. Cheers!
As I am sipping a beer....my onc team said that an occasional drink is fine. One of the reasons they suggest that you do not overdo it, is that the alcohol and chemo are both tough on the liver. As for alcohol turning into sugar....that makes sense? To quote my favorite line in the movie Airplane..." I picked a bad time to quit drinking".
I shouldn't even comment on this one! I drink like a fish! Good God, I teach middle school kids and somehow picked up cancer in aisle 5! If that combination wouldn't cause you to want to drink, I don't know what would! Only joking....maybe! Seriously, I'm not an alcoholic, but I love having a real good time, with or without alcohol. I just seemed to be way more entertained when alcohol is involved. I was told to only have a couple a day during chemo! As mention above it is hard on your liver to be drinking and doing chemo at the same time! I also believe that what you are consuming would be important...such as red wine, not pappy's moonshine. But if you are on a chemo holiday.....I say go for it. I'm not a doctor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last weekend. My motto....If I'm going to be taken down please make sure that I have a good drink in one hand and a bratwurst in the other; all the while being surrounded with good friends that are more concerned that I didn't spill my drink than if I'm physically okay.
I was never a big drinker (well, I shouldn't say "never" as I think back to my stupid twenties, but I survived), and until a couple of weeks ago had not touched alcohol since my diagnosis nearly 2 years ago now. My gyn/onc has no problem with a minor intake of alcohol, although he would probably prefer it be wine. The main prohibition I have is that my antidepressants say not to drink with them. Since many of us here are on antidepressants, it is something to consider. I have had a glass of wine with a meal early in the evening, and don't think I am doing any harm. I do need to remember to take my milk thistle more faithfully to help my liver with detox.
I would exercise caution. I have read repeatedly that alcohol consumption can increase breast cancer risk, and I think it is not unreasonable to assume that it may increase the risk of other cancers as well.
Check out this link:
http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/guide/20061101/alcohol-breast-cancer-ris k
Remember the saying, "all things in moderation, including moderation". I drink wine and beer occasionally. My oncologist has no problem with it so long as I don't overdo it--which I don't. I have a glass or two of wine with dinner a couple nights a week. And once in a great while I'll have a beer. It's important to let your doc know if you drink, and for that matter if you take vitamin or herbal supplements, as all these can have an impact on your liver. In fact, the only time my liver function tests were bad was when I was using herbal and vitamin supplements. The results were so bad that my doc asked me if I had suddenly turned into a big lush. I hadn't, so he wisely asked about vitamins, supplements etc. He told me to put everything in a bag, bring it to his office and his chemo nurse checked out compatibility with the drugs I'm on. We found several natural supplements that were dangerous because of the synergy between them and the chemo. I dropped them right away and my liver function results immediately fell back into normal range where they've stayed for over two years (knock on wood).
So I vote for a glass of wine now and then as a quality of life issue!
We were talking about this in the chemo room a few weeks ago and one of the nurses said you can have just a little if it's a special occasion, but not all the time. It really doesn't go with chemo.
I hardly ever drink but once in a while a glass of wine helps my soul--maybe not my liver--but we are talking quality of life here. I have probably eight glasses in the past year so we are not talking big numbers here.
I've also read what Plonanon posted...that increased alcohol consumption is associated with increased BC risk. Any of us BRCA postive ladies needs to heed that. I confess to 0-2 drinks per week. Red wine or a girlie martini.
I think it's the other way around, i.e., it's the sugars in the carbohydrates (grape and grain) that ferment (turn into alcohol)...if what you're eating isn't fat or protein, then it's a carbohydrate, which eventually breaks down into a sugar...what nutritionists are trying to get you to cut down on are certain types of sugars and carbs, such as refined sugars, sugars that are added to food to make it sweet, etc...basically, you have to be able to differentiate the good carbs from the bad carbs, and make appropriate food choices
I think it's the other way around, i.e., it's the sugars in the carbohydrates (grape and grain) that ferment (turn into alcohol)...if what you're eating isn't fat or protein, then it's a carbohydrate, which eventually breaks down into a sugar...what nutritionists are trying to get you to cut down on are certain types of sugars and carbs, such as refined sugars, sugars that are added to food to make it sweet, etc...basically, you have to be able to differentiate the good carbs from the bad carbs, and make appropriate food choices
"A llittle wine is an antidote to death; in large amounts, it is the poison of life."
Persian Proverb
Now to today and science:
Red wine contains many polyphenols, including the celebrated resveratrol. Resveratrol acts on genes that are known to protect cells against aging. It can also slow the three stages of cancer development - initiation, promotion and progression - by blocking the action of NF-kappa B.
Recommendations for use: these results are observed with concentrations similar to those obtained after consumption of one glass of red wine a day (More is not recommended, since it may lead to an increase in cancer). Pinot Noir, originally from the damp climate of Burgundy, is particularly rich in Resveratrol.
"Anticancer - A New Way of Life" - D. Servan-Schreiber
Cheers!!
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