Raise a Glass to my BC sisters...or not?

chenheart

I went to a get together with a bunch of Cancer Survivors, not "just" BC, but garden variety cancers. There were about 20 of us present, and all but maybe 2 of us celebrated by having cocktails. Yes, I was among the cocktail drinkers!

I am once again conflicted! ( Aren't I always??)

Pre-Cancer, I remember saying that if I ever got cancer, I would do anything and everything to beat it. I even told someone I would be willing to hang from a chandelier and take coffee enemas administered by orangutans if that would up my chances of killing the Beast!!

I have always been a fruit and veggie eater, and an exerciser, and a general lover of life. I was also raised in Europe ( yummy wine country) and now live in California's wine country. Therein lies my delimna.

I find I am not so willing to do ANYTHING after all. I have turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to the latest scares that ANY alcohol is bad and can increase the chance of recurrance of Breast Cancer.

Has BC and the latest revelations about alcohol stopped you from having wine with dinner? Or a beer at the barbeque? Or a gin and tonic at the end of a long Indian Summer day?

Some days I want to do everything to fend off the BC Beast, and other days, I just want to join friends, family and society, and be part of the celebration of life.

I am NOT talking about alcohol abuse~that is a completely different subject. But with the holidays on the horizon, am I truly selfish and off-base serving and having alcohol?

What do you all do????

Hugs,
Claudia

roxanne53

I think the latest revelation has to do with the over use of alcohol and not the occasional cocktail or Wine with dinner/friends/family.
I did do the libations before cancer, so then I now occasionally I think conflictingly I caused my own cancer problems. This is during a very low self confidence between zero to three self rating. or so.
HOpe this does not sound too goofy.

I was also a fruit, veggies, and exercise nut. Still do 2 out of the 3. Heeheeeheee. I do some exercise but not as I used to do. Since cancer,lots and lots of things changed, as we all know.

Yes some days I want to do everything perfectly to stop the reccurance if possible to fend it off again. (it would be the 3rd time if happened again).


I do think about it in conflicting manner and occasionally still have a wine with dinner out. I think there is nothing wrong with having a spirit of wine or other during the holidays! I think that is very normal and that is what we all want to be as normal with the rest of our surroundings and families, friends.etc.

Here is to you or should I say:
Here's looking at you! Happy Thanksgiving.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year.

Take care and ease up on your conflicted thoughts.
roxanne53

phoenixrising

Sounds like a topic that should be pondered over a couple glasses of wine I totally understand your confliction. I really, really miss having a few drinks. I used to eat alot of veggies (not much fruit) and love the outdoors. Even on the rainy B.C. coast you could find me hiking in the mountains or out in the skagit valley. Just love this place. I'd be gone for 5hrs at a time. I used to love sitting outside by the fire/ocean with a drink and watch the stars and the moon. Some really good times. But strangely I lost my interest in drinking before I found out about my cancer. Can't explain it, just lost interest. Now I just remember that I enjoyed it, but something in me prevents me from actually doing it most times. I think I've drank 2x since May 06. Those times it was a "to hell with everything" attitude, I'm just going to enjoy myself. But that's about it.

The trouble is, I don't know if anything really makes a difference. Both my mother and grandmother drank lots more than I did and they did OK. Add to that my mother smoked 2-3 packs of cigarettes/day. Actually this can make perfect sense as the new studies show that only a couple of drinks/day can cause cancer while they couldn't get it to happen on large amounts. Also, I have found research that shows that
smoking over 25 cig/day can actually protect against BC. Good to know if you need an excuse to drink/smoke more. You might get a different type of cancer, but apparently not BC. My mother-in-law didn't smoke or drink and she got it and died.

If anyone wants me to send them this info, I would be happy to. Just email me your email address.

You know if we knew for sure that we were gaining "quantity over quality" it would be simpler to make the decision, but what if you
sacrifice your enjoyments only to find that you didn't gain any longevity?......... bummer!! Perhaps "quality" is merely only a perception of something better.

Perhaps we will always "toss and turn" about this topic. Somedays we're "this" and other days we're "that".

seof

In my limited research and experience, I do not think anyone has convinced me yet that there is anything we can do or not do to guarantee that we will get cancer, not get cancer, not get it again, or whatever. There are no guarantees! My Sister used drugs, alchohol, and tobacco as a teenager and young adult. She stopped all of it cold turkey, except for a daily glass of red wine when she became pregnant. At that point she became a near-total vegetarian (still the occasional fish and dairy). When that child was a teenager she got breast cancer. She was a survivor for 6 years on earth, now she is cancer free in heaven. I have never smoked or done illegal drugs, and have only had the occasional wine cooler or spiked punch on holidays with family. I have been moderately healthy in my diet (I'm about 60lb overweight and do enjoy red meat and fried foods and fast food restaurants weekly, along with my stir-fry veggies and salads). Guess what? I have breast cancer! If hers was caused by the smoking and alcohol, what was mine caused by? If mine was caused by the poor diet, what was hers caused by? If I become a teetotalling vegetarian, can you tell me conclusively that I will not have a recurrence? From what I read and hear from Drs, the answer is no.

So...I still have not answered your question. Basically, my motto is "everything in moderation". If you enjoy a glass of wine (or whatever) when you celebrate, do it! You have a lot to celebrate...You are not dead yet! I don't think you are jeopardizing your chances any more than the rest of the folk are. If it helps you feel a part of what's going on, and if it gives you a chance to relax, the lower stress and positive feelings will counteract whatever negative effect there may be. There is a lot of evidence that laughter and a positive attitude go a long way to helping people with many different medical conditions.

Have a thankful Thanksgiving
Have a Christ-filled Christmas
Have a Happy Hannukah
Have a sensational Celebration of whatever type you choose.

seof

newboobs

I say Have a glass or two and enjoy yourself!

3cbrca

Claudia
I agree with everyone - I don't drink at all and here I am. I can't believe they're talking about the occasional drink or even the occasional wild night out, so I say enjoy!

I personnally have an almost unnatural fear of dairy products and chickens!! I stick with Organic Dairy, eggs and chicken (don't eat much meat). I'm terrified of feeding my cancer with the hormones that they give the cows to produce more milk and the hormones in the feed that they give the chickens. I don't care about the rest of my food, or alcohol but regular dairy products just plain scare me.
CHEERS!
She

ladybluepgh

Ok...here goes...to hell with it all...if you want a drink by all means have it...its the holidays for goodness sake...why can't we enjoy ourselves too...I thought I did everything right after my last bout with cancer but it still came back..so from here on...I'm back to the live today like it was your last...and have a blast going out. If I don't make it then...oh well, I had a good time anyway...lol...happy holidays to you!!!

kbc4869

Before BC, I drank and smoked. I'm not ashamed to say that I had a blast in my 20's and early 30's, and -- after all that's happened -- I'm glad I did. Did drinking and smoking cause me to get my BC DX at age 34? I'll never know. I'm adopted, so I have no family history to base that factor on.

What I do know is that all the girls that were drinking and smoking with me in their 20's and early 30's, didn't get DXed with BC. It's a crap shoot. We can sit around and second guess our past and current life styles and tear ourselves apart or we can just live. I choose to just live; however, in more moderation.

I say, have the drink, Ms Claudia. If it weren't so early, I'd have one with you!

Hugs,
Kim

Susan956

Claudia....

My attitude is that I didn't have enough fun in my first 50 years... So I intend to make up for it in my second half century.... and I expect to make it... well at least almost....

So Cheers... enjoy life... and for me that means that there will be glasses of wine... and Margaritas....

Have fun with life...

Take Care... God bless...


Susan

jackiemanz

Claudia,

The way I see it is drink and be merry. Live everyday to your fulless.

Cheers to ya.

Jackie

chenheart

You know the old saying "You can't pick your family, but you can pick your Friends?" You women are such incredible friends~and I am so honored to have met you. I must say that I'm not too crazy about the venue, but you honor me, humble me ( when I need it!!!) make me laugh, and mostly, you all let me know that I am ALIVE and a SURVIVOR, with much to celebrate.
Thanks for your sage words; you have no idea how much I love hearing your take on all of my inane ramblings. You have no doubt saved me untold millions in therapy expenses!
Hugs,
Claudia

Skybuf

chenheart said:

You know the old saying "You can't pick your family, but you can pick your Friends?" You women are such incredible friends~and I am so honored to have met you. I must say that I'm not too crazy about the venue, but you honor me, humble me ( when I need it!!!) make me laugh, and mostly, you all let me know that I am ALIVE and a SURVIVOR, with much to celebrate.
Thanks for your sage words; you have no idea how much I love hearing your take on all of my inane ramblings. You have no doubt saved me untold millions in therapy expenses!
Hugs,
Claudia

I'll DRINK to that! You gals are all right on, eat, drink and be merry.....we've been thru enough and to sit and have a glass of wine with friends or family....well that isn't going to make or break us. I don't drink to excess (anymore) but my friends come by and bring their fav wine and we pour a glass and toast to "good health and good friend" so enjoy, and Happy Thanksgiving to all you Americans, we've had ours here in Canada. God bless us ALL!

babs49242

chenheart said:

You know the old saying "You can't pick your family, but you can pick your Friends?" You women are such incredible friends~and I am so honored to have met you. I must say that I'm not too crazy about the venue, but you honor me, humble me ( when I need it!!!) make me laugh, and mostly, you all let me know that I am ALIVE and a SURVIVOR, with much to celebrate.
Thanks for your sage words; you have no idea how much I love hearing your take on all of my inane ramblings. You have no doubt saved me untold millions in therapy expenses!
Hugs,
Claudia

Claudia~
We'll just add it to your bill! then we can drink over the on going total!!!! Happy Thanksgivng early!
Cindie