Whilst waiting for results I have been searching the internet for information on alcohol and breast cancer–I enjoy my wine and drink more than the nanny state says you should.
I wanted to read professional papers rather than newspaper stories, and found it hard to find studies where they looked at how much non smokers drank so that the tobacco could be ruled out as the reason for increased cancer. (i have never smoked). I also wanted to see how big the increase was, was it a statistically significant result? How big was the sample? What measures had they taken to ensure the amount people reported drinking was true( I do worry about studies based on self reporting)
well today there is a news artical in a medical journal about a huge study that says not only did they find no correlation between alcohol and breast cancer, but they found that there was a reduction of colon cancer in those that drank.
Everyone has to make up their own minds about whether to drink alcohol or not folowing diagnosis.
But the weight of research has revealed that there is a distinct correlation between alcohol and BC. And it needs to be remembered that once you have already been diagnosed with cancer your risk is not the same as someone who has never been diagnosed. You are already at elevated risk.
This from Cancer Research who in no way shape or form can be described as the “nanny state”:
“There is no doubt that alcohol can cause seven types of cancer.
The more you cut down on alcohol, the more you reduce your risk of cancer.
There is limited risk if you only drink a little - such as one small drink a day for women or two for men.
You don’t need to be drunk to increase your risk.
Drinking and smoking together are even worse for you.”
it is interesting that every health care professional I have seen since I discovered the lump has asked me about my smoking history but no one yet has asked about my drinking habits.
I agree Msmolly, there have been many studies that have shown there is a definite link between BC and alcohol. I admit to drinking more wine some weeks that I should, and I am certain it is one of the reasons I have bc now, not all, but I am certain it has contributed to this. I shall in future be cutting down as being diagnosed with BC in my forties has really really come as a shock!
Once I was diagnosed with Cancer, I have been asked about my smoking, and drinking habits.
One of the reasons you’ll always be asked about smoking is the implications it has for things like surgery. When I was a nurse I saw a young man in his twenties really struggling post surgery because he was such a heavy smoker.
The other thing with smoking is it can affect blood clotting and put people more at risk of developing a thrombosis.
Drinking isn’t asked about nearly enough, although people aren’t always honest when it is. Unlike smoking it’s not so easily to spot people who drink heavily. My neighbour who drinks on average a bottle of wine per day and often shorts on top told his surgeon he hardly drank.
I think with BC, women should be informed about the potential for increased risk and informed of the research and statistics. Then it’s up to them whether or not they continue to drink, cut down or become teetotal. Elinda x
Appears to be a fairly robust new study, though with some 13,000 women examined over a long period of time. If it’s not showing a link between alcohol and cancer risk, it’s interesting.
“Some previous studies have found associations between alcohol consumption and cancer risk, Dr. ----- noted, suggesting that one reason for the differences in results might be the lack of heavy drinkers enrolled in this trial”
Mmmm think that might have something to do with it lol.
Melxx
Oops, edited the DR name,don’t want to get in trouble
There is no doubt in my mind that alcohol is a poison. Ever over-indulged and had a sore head? That’s because you’ve poisoned yourself!
That said, it is a personal decision whether or not to continue to do so, and given some of the positive psychological benefits of poisoning oneself with a beer or bottle of wine, I don’t think it’s completely black and white although it would be a lot easier if it were. I know I should probably cut it all out completely, but then again I DO want to live and not just survive, so I will probably reduce rather than remove alcohol from my normal life.
Each to his or her own, as long as you understand the risks associated with your life decisions.
Elinda - I agree that heavy drinkers are hard to spot. I know professional people that will easily sink a couple of bottles of wine a day, every day - plus a few other snifters on top - and they haven’t a clue how that is impacting on their health because all of their friends drink just as much.
Women metabolise alcohol very differently to men. We do get a rough deal on this. Women’s alcohol consumption started to go through the roof when they began selling cheap wine in supermarkets. When we could only buy wine at off licenses I simply did not drink.
I have a relative who is an oncology Professor. He has specialised in BC since the 70s and told me they have known about the link between alcohol and BC for many years now. It’s partly to do with drink making causing weight gain and extra weight stimulating oestrogen levels.
Susan Love has a good section on this. Says yes, there is a connection, but seems there’s a couple of very credible studies (she only includes credible studies) that show that if you have a diet high in folic acid this seems to reduce the risk. A spinach martini is suggested!!
Have to say I’ve started including a helluva lot of spinach in my diet.
I guess it’s the same as Roy Castle and his lung cancer. He never smoked, but got cancer from passive smoking, but my father in law smoked fourty cigarettes a day and died at 78 with a non smoking related illness. There are always going to be exceptions to the rule.
I hardly drank and got cancer, I enjoyed the odd glass of wine but never over indulged. Watched my weight all the time as tendency to put on weight and was sligthly over weight when diagnosed. When I asked my Consultant how did I get BC? His answer was simple ‘Wrong place, Wrong Time’! I have never smoked, have always had fairly decent diet and hardly drank and still going down this horrible road. We have to make choices in life sometimes, whether they are right or wrong. I have not touched any alcohol since diagnosed and having treatment, but I am sure that when reach end of this road and I fancy a drink I will have one!
Correlation and causation are not the same thing. There is now so much evidence in relation to certain cancers and alcohol (and conversely no evidence with other cancers) that it can’t be ignored as a factor in general public health.
Once you have had a breast cancer diagnosis you are no longer a member of the general public - so the general guidance for those who are attempting to avoid increasing risk of a cancer dx doesn’t apply to us any more. We are always going to be at elevated risk of recurrence or progression.
This cancer has the capacity to hibernate for decades - particularly ER+ tumours. The longest period I am aware of is 18 years from primary to bone mets.
If it is widely acknowledged that alcohol plays a role in cancer in those who have never had this disease, then it must surely play an ever larger role in those of us who have already been walloped with the cancer stick.
I wish to god they’d get a cure for this thing soon.
There are days when I can fantasise about an ice cold, perfectly poured pint of Guinness for hours.
