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.
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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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I waited a few weeks post-chemo and asked my oncologist first, which helped ease my mind. Everything felt different at first—even one glass hit harder than before. I also looked into outpatient treatment orange county options since they had support groups where others talked about how they adjusted after treatment, including things like alcohol and energy levels. Just being able to compare notes really helped me feel normal again.
Hi i had TNBC diagnosed a year this month i had a lumpectomy chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
I also do think alcohol is the reason why i got breast cancer. I stopped drinking when i found out. After my treatment finished July this year 2025. I do have a drink now and again.
Its is a known factor alcohol and smoking can cause cancer.
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I had a chemo, double mastectomy, radiation and 12 months of Herceptin and Perjeta. I completed my last three weeks ago. I had a cocktail and some candy last night and feel anxious. My oncologist said that diet doesn’t cause cancer (being overweight and other can) and that I can have a cocktail!!!
Same, my oncologist and others have said that there’s no evidence that alcohol causes breast cancer! And has said, a cocktail in moderation should be okay. IJS. However, I am now worried about everything I consume.
I had a very watered-down cocktail yesterday (eight ounces of club soda and a couple spoons of a margarita). And, I had some candy. But, I am so worried about it and pretty much anything I eat now after breast cancer!
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The sugar thing is nonsense - it comes from the fact all cells need sugar to replenish & multiply & grow, that’s what they ALL turn your food into to just function normally. If you have cancer cells in your body, they multiply abnormally - that’s what makes them cancer. They use sugar to do that, but normal cells all need sugar too - it’s growth food for ALL cells. So, how much sugar you eat, unless you are overweight because of it, won’t make a difference to cancer risk. Personally I eat whatever sweets I want if I’m having a treat. Also still no reliable evidence as far as I’ve been able to determine, or my oncologist seems to know of, that alcohol in moderation is a direct causal factor in breast cancer. I think I drink a little less now than I did before diagnosis, but if I want a bit of a binge every so often, I go have my fun! I eat healthy & clean 90% of the time, I do yoga daily, I hike, ride horses, wild swim, I’m an athletic weight/BMI… I feel the odd drink is a balance, & hey, Iife has to actually be lived to be life!
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The sugar issue is more to do with the hormones. Sugar causes a reaction that increases estrogen levels. I dont know the full chemistry, but it is explained quite widely on the web. For people with ER+ cancers, we take hormone tablets to reduce or eliminate estrogen, but by consuming sugar our bodies create what we want to get rid off.
The chemistry with alcohol is slightly different, more to do with the liver and how it’s processed and absorbed - but further down the line it promotes more estrogen. Which is probably why it’s considered a risk factor.
I am overweight, very sweet tooth, but never been a big drinker - I would edge towards the sugar put me at higher risk. I’ve not drank alcohol since diagnosis, it’s not important to my social life, but it could make a difference on the cancer front.
We sometimes need to remember data collected from research represents how likely something will or won’t happen. It’s not a guarantee either way. But sometimes understanding the “how” or the “why” helps us make decisions.
Nb. On the sugar front - some non-alcoholic drinks have equally high sugar levels to alcholic.
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