Hello there,
Since I was diagnosed with breast cancer almost three weeks ago, I’ve been having a couple of glasses of wine each night to help me sleep, as I’ve been so anxious.
Please could you tell me if it’s actually safe to drink alcohol? I’ve read on some websites that alcohol is bad for breast cancer and can also contribute to recurrance; is this true?
Thank you.
Hello @sunshine7
I think at this point you need to do what helps you through each day. Sleep is essential in healing, so if some wine helps then maybe for now it’s fine.
It is said that alcohol can cause cancers, I used to drink alcohol and have tried to quit since going through breast cancer treatment. It is easier to have none and stick to none.
If you want some help on knowing what to do to help yourself with the cancer diagnosis there are a couple of books I can recommend that will help you know what is good and bad for you and why.
Breaking the cancer code. By Dr Rubio
Chris Beat Cancer. By Chris Wark
Knowing you are doing the right things for you will hopefully help your mind settle so you can relax.
Hope this helps xx
Hi sunshine7
it’s such a difficult time when you’re first diagnosed. It’s probably the scariest thing that has happened to you. A few glasses of wine to help you relax won’t do any harm at all at the moment.
Going forward you will probably want to make some changes. BC does change you, your perspective on everything really. You’ll go through a traumatic event and treatment, but you’ll be okay, you’re team will look after you.
There is research that says excessive drinking of alcohol can cause numerous cancers so we should listen. I enjoyed a lot of wine before my diagnosis but I decided to give up completely afterwards and I feel better for it. It’s not about blame, it’s not our fault we got it, we were just unlucky.
I just wanted to give myself every chance to stop it recurring. Things like giving up or reducing alcohol and losing some weight will help with that. Even small changes can make a difference.
I’m still a work in progress two years on! Best of luck with your recovery.
Hello @Ahbc21,
Thanks for your advice, which makes total sense. I do intend giving up alcohol completely once the surgery is over, as I want to be as healthy as I can be.
Thanks for the book recommendations too.
Take care xx
Hi @Frances55,
Thanks for your reply; it is indeed the scariest thing I’ve ever been through, the anxiety is just so awful, especially regarding the waiting for the surgery day.
I’ll continue having a glass of wine at night up to the surgery, but then like yourself, I’ve decided to give it up completely afterwards. It makes total sense to lead as healthy a lifestyle as possible.
Thanks again x
Dr Amy Morris, an American oncologist, has recently done some videos on this via instagram and Tik tok.
Dr Liz O’Reirdan, an English breast surgeon, also talks about this on her social media channels.
Both have had cancer & explain things really well with scientific research to back it up.
Good luck
Yes it does but frankly life without being able to enjoy a good meal with wine is pretty joyless , I know people who have been virtually teetotal get cancer excessive drinkers who lived long lives cancer free .
My oncologist said everyone and everything should be enjoyed in moderation. I tend to agree it’s not like smoking and lung cancer . If you want to give up alcohol fine but I am not going to . So many scares around sugar soya etc etc . If it was known what causes breast cancer there would be a cure which currently there isn’t. We all live with the fear of recurrence and choose different ways of coping . Mine is exercise super healthy diet and moderate alcohol . As I am lucky to be here I intend to enjoy it
Hi sunshine7. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis which undoubtedly is very stressful…I agree with others that, at this point, whatever you need to do day to day is fine. I was diagnosed last September at 43 and no matter what anyone else tells me I still think it was ‘my fault’. I must have eaten something, maybe I had too many x rays, I breastfed ‘badly’ on that side and used a breast pump ‘too much’, I got myself stressed out ‘too much’, I slept badly for ‘too long’…and yes, I drank ‘too much’ as a student and in my 20s. My oncologist says I got breast cancer because I am female and unlucky!
So, as someone who can’t take advice myself, please let me reassure you that this isn’t your fault. You didn’t cause this. However, it is totally understandable that you want to find ways to reduce your risk going forwards. As Luskentyre1 says, Dr Liz O’Riordan has excellent information on this. For my part, I have not gone tee total but I am drinking very little. My attitude is I enjoy wine so I will drink if I really want to but now it is one or two glasses for a special occasion rather than it being a habit every weekend like before. It has given me more control over things and for me, that made me feel better. Right now though my biggest issue is I need to stop eating cake everyday 
Take care and good luck with everything xxx
Hi sunshine7
Thank you for posting. It sounds like a difficult time for you since being diagnosed with breast cancer 3 weeks ago.
Coping emotionally with a breast cancer diagnosis can be stressful and worrying time, as @Ahbc21, @Frances55, @blue80 say, and many people experience anxiety and trouble sleeping.
Studies have shown that drinking alcohol can increase the risk of developing breast cancer. The evidence for the risk from alcohol related to recurrence for people who have breast cancer is less clear. The current recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for people who have had breast cancer, is to keep alcohol below 5 units a week.
As @susanmanchester says, people will find different ways to cope with breast cancer. Although wine may help you relax to get to sleep, it can also impact the quality of your sleep. You may find these sleep tips helpful for other ways to help you get to sleep. We also have a recent Facebook Live about sleep deprivation and mindfulness that may also be useful.
You may want to talk to your treatment team or breast care nurse about how you are feeling. They will be able to let you know about any support available through the hospital. Some people find talking therapies can also be helpful when going through a difficult time. You can talk to your breast care nurse, treatment team or GP about this.
We offer a range of free supportive services for anyone who has had a diagnosis of breast cancer which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events. For more details about all of these services, please see the information in the link.
Do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to more support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks. The number is 0808 800 6000, (Relay UK -prefix 18001).
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Best wishes
Cassie
Breast Care Nurse
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