Beer and Liver Mets

HDLadyRider

OK, so now that I dipped my feet into the waters and introduced myself...and thank you for the kind welcoming statments...what does anyone think about beer drinking and liver mets. My husband has at least 4 bilobal liver mets in varying sizes. He is going into his 4th chemo treatment and has had the whole cold hands with tinly fingers. The minute he can swallow cold drinks, he dons a glove to hold the cold glass and drinks beer. He is probably drinking on average of 4-5 beers a day which concerns me. The Onc. when he asked him said...it is your liver after all. Anybody every heard good or bad about drinking alcohol. I really, really appreciate this board.
Thanks.
Jan

shmurciakova

Hi Jan,
I personally think that beer has too much sugar in it. As cancer survivors, I feel it is important to cut way back on sugar. He may not realize that maltose, found in beer, is one of the worst sugars in that it enters the blood stream almost immediately and causes the blood sugar to spike, excess insulin to be produced, etc. Cancer cells take up sugars more readily than normal cells, which we know is the premise of how a PET scan works. I would think that drinking excess amounts of beer could fuel his liver mets. When I was undergoing treatment I learned to eat a very low carb diet and avoid sugar. Now of course we all enjoy a cold one from time to time, but especially while he is on chemo I don't think it is the greatest thing to be drinking so much beer. My onc told me to hold off on liquor while I was undergoing treatments.
Does he like red wine? He could still relax without taking in so much sugar and one or two glasses would do the job, if he cannot stop drinking all together. At a minimum he should cut back to like, 2 beers. BTW, if you drink 2 beers/week for a year, that is 15,000 calories!

Susan

apache4

I certainly agree with the sugar thing. Did he always drink that much beer? If not, he could be depressed. If so, he just might lose his taste for it with the chemo. I like my wine and it took being off chemo before I got the urge for it again. I drink a glass a night as it is a bad habit. I try to be kind to my liver otherwise and do not take any other meds. Dr. told me that none is best.

83popsong

Hi Jan - I was in a similar place, multiple tumors in both lobes. I agree with the other folks, avoid sugars and fats as much as possible. Both feed tumor growth, something you don't want to do while using chemo to get you to the OR. I was worse. I lied and told my onc 3-4 beers a day and it was more like 5-6. What can I say, I like beer. My Onc said that there is no firm scientific basis to cut back on alcohol and I should "do what I enjoy". That got me riled up, I considered that a call to arms. I quit drinking and cut most sugar and fat from my diet. My logic was that WHEN (not if) I had liver surgery my liver would be taxed and I should prepare for it. Well, 5 months of chemo (FOLFOX + Erbitux) got me to the OR and all tumors were treated (Partial Colectomy, RFA to the two remaining liver mets). The surgery was in August of '06. I did have a recent recurrence, but it was on the site of the first colectomy so it appears to be recurrent rather than a new primary growth. Liver and longs still clear.

I do drink now but no where near as much. I am not down on alcohol, but I really appreciate time more now and drink more socially then habitually. Boy was I surprised how much weight I dropped and how much more time I had.

Being happy is a very important part of treatment, so look to your husband to find a satisfying place of moderation. I looked at not drinking as a temporary necessity, but at this point I feel that my eating and drinking habits have changed forever.

--Eben

KathiM

Oh, Jan....I would be worried about ANYONE drinking 4-5 beers a day, everyday!!!! I was married to an alcoholic....that was about his speed....

Scold the onc....he should know better...hubby's liver is getting enough toxins with the chemo....why run the risk?
If he is self-medicating for pain, get him something for it.
If he is self-medicating for depression, find a cancer-specialist counselor....
Whew!

Hugs, kathi

2bhealed

Hi Jan,

Welcome to the boards. Caregivers have a tough go. I give you a lot of credit coming here and joining in with us Semi-Colons.

I am a stage 3 survivor who opted to not do any chemo and post surgery, healed from cancer through diet and Eastern Medicine. So in the diet department I may be seen as a radical--but it's my only life I have and cancer is not an option.

Alcohol is a no-no in any form during cancer and recovery and with someone with liver mets it's totally sad that he is harming himself in this manner. I feel badly for you having to watch.

All types of alcohol is acid forming and cancer LOVES acid. One wants to STARVE cancer not feed it. Aside from the obvious sugar connection, the acid issue is very important too.

The liver is such a key organ in regaining health. If you're putting toxins into your system (chemo) your liver has to work hard to clean up and if alcohol is being dumped in there too it just makes the liver's job that much harder. Eventually it can just very well give out.

When you say on average 4-5 beers a day that means he is also drinking more than that and even for non-cancerous people that is too much toxicity for one's liver.

It may be time to do an intervention. It may be his liver but it's also his life. As in, it's in jeopardy and nothing to mess with.

Kicking cancer hinder takes a lot more than getting an infusion of chemo. There are no guarantees in life, but I would hope your hubby would do everything possible to support his body in healing and not to sabatoge a possible cure with toxic alcohol.

There is a really good book called The pH Miracle that explains getting your body alkalized to combat disease. Basically you cut out dairy, sugar, white flour and grains, alcohol, and most meat and you focus on plant foods with lots of greens.

GREEN = LIFE

hope this helps.

peace, emily the juice chick

hopefulone

Hi. I'm sorry I was late responding to your previous post and hope you'll get a chance to read my reply. I agree with what everyone has said, but I also have another suggestion, it may not be "nutritious" but it may be the lesser of the two evils. Buy non-alcholic beer . I've done the same for my hubby . God Bless. Keep the faith.
Diane

jams67

Most medical advise would say limit acoholic beverages. However, it will be hard for him to accept advise from you without resentment. Blaming the messager will probably be the first reaction to any advise. Try just giving him a copy of the posts here or any other research you can find on the subject without the added nagging attached, he may gradually change. Your job is not an easy one, and I wish you the best.
Hope this helps.
Jo Ann