That’s reassuring that some oncologists are not saying stop completely. I have had 1/2 bottle of wine this week which is the first time since new years. I will ask my oncologist once I have completed chemo what his thoughts are about this.
My consultant specifically said alcohol, sedentary lifestyle and overweight, particularly post menopause.
I specifically asked him because I was curious about diet etc and he said the three above were the risks that they were certain about.
Interesting that some have said alcohol is not a risk.
I had my last drink the day before I was diagnosed.
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I don’t know if the NHS just don’t trust wherever the research suggesting alcohol was a strong causal factor has come from initially - but the consensus between my surgeon and my BCN so far has been a ‘couldn’t give two hoots if you drink a normal amount, it makes no difference, there is no evidence it causes breast cancer or recurrence’.
Given everything I’ve read suggesting the opposite, I am going to speak with the oncologist, once I get to see them, about their opinion, but my BCN & surgeon have been clear: “Aside from the genetic cancers - if we knew what caused breast cancer, 1 in 8 women would not still be getting it. We’d have made a public health announcement! You don’t see ads on the TV telling you how to protect yourself from getting breast cancer like we had for HIV in the 80s, or Covid…because we don’t know! That’s the majority of the problem!!”
I was quite surprised that both of them, plus a consultant assisting my surgeon, all shrugged off that I had not drunk a drop since diagnosis with a “Why not?” attitude. It just doesn’t seem to be a thing - & they are employed at a large, internationally renowned teaching hospital. I don’t know - maybe I’ll ask why there is so much info suggesting it’s an issue & they are adamant it’s not! It’s interesting! xx
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I also read that the WHO had asked developed countries (sorry if that’s not the current correct term) to address alcohol consumption in women as they believe it was implicated in the “epidemic” of breast cancer.
So I don’t know !!! The evidence based seems very inconclusive.
I do strongly believe though that there needs to be a huge increase in messaging for women of all ages about breast awareness. I’ve met so many young women who have been diagnosed with advanced BC’s. I just don’t feel it’s sufficiently emphasised to younger women, at least once you get to 50 and start mammograms it sort of on your horizon.
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Very interesting thread. I too worry about alcohol but my oncologist is a fan of moderation. I feel that it’s the sugar in wine as oppose to the alcohol that’s the problem so trying to swap out wine for other lower sugar drinks.
I haven’t seen anything about sugar ???
I haven’t read anything scientific on this it was just a feeling ie that sugar is linked to feeding fat cells which in turn feeds oestrogen so more of an indirect link. It would be interesting to understand if some alcohol is worse than others. Hard to know.
There some info on this site about the link between alcohol and breast cancer.
https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/awareness/breast-cancer-causes/alcohol-and-breast-cancer-risk/
The World cancer conference is on in Geneva next week. Reading online I saw that one of the subjects is alcohol so would expect to hear some reports in the media in the coming days on this.
Hi all
I started chemo a year ago today, wow, a full year has passed nd I’ve just finished my 18th Herceptin. I used to drink 3/4 nights a week one or two glasses of wine or G&T, then Covid hit and I started drinking a bit more as I wasn’t driving. I had a glass of wine a few days after my first chemo and then the second (weekly Paclitaxel). I really didn’t like the taste, and never had a drink after that. I started looking for non alcoholic alternatives and tried quite a few. The wines are hit and miss, mostly juice flavoured. The Nosecco sparkling drinks are quite pleasant. I’ve listed found a few Non alcoholic gins/botanics. Everleaf have some great flavours, Caleno tropical is nice. I have tried Mother Root but it tastes too much of apple cider vinegar for me. I drink these in a G&T glass and I feel like I’m having a drink. I’ve tried a few non alcoholic beers, Erdinger and Brewdog are all good.
Dr Liz O’Riordan has talked about the links of alcohol and I believe a cancer diagnosis usually means a lower weekly allowance of 7 units, which is only a couple of small glasses of wine (175ml is 2.1 units according the to NHS).
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