Hi alikat
Thanks for posting.
There’s no specific guidance which says you should refrain from drinking alcohol before and during radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer, so usually it is fine to have small or moderate amounts of alcohol during your treatment. However, you might find it helpful to contact your breast care nurse or radiotherapy team before Christmas to check if there is any local guidance on this.
As I’m sure you will know and @purplerose mentions, alcohol can make you feel tired and add to the fatigue you may feel after a few treatment sessions and may be worth bearing in mind.
Limiting the amount of alcohol we drink, is obviously important for everyone to consider. However, many people reduce the amount, or refrain from drinking alcohol following a diagnosis of breast cancer like @sal1. Guidance recommends that people who’ve had breast cancer limit their alcohol intake to below 5 units a week.
You can read more about diet and breast cancer, including alcohol consumption following breast cancer treatment, in our booklet via above the link.
Once you’ve completed your radiotherapy, you may be interested in our Moving Forward resources that are for people who have had a diagnosis of primary breast cancer and have come to the end of their main hospital treatment within the last 2 years. They include our Moving Forward booklet and Moving Forward courses.
You can find out more about these by calling our helpline. You can also call us you would like to talk this through more 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, If you have hearing or speech difficulties prefix our number with 18001 and the call will go through Relay UK. Our helpline has access to telephone interpreters if language translation is required.
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Best wishes
Catherine
Breast Care Nurse
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