Drinking while on chemo

Marlene_K
Marlene_K Member Posts: 508
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I know (because I've been told) that I shouldn't drink while on chemo, but I really don't understand why. I've been meaning to ask my onc but I usually have so many questions that I forget about that one, as it's not a priority but really just want to know why. The vitamin thing I understand. Does anyone know why?
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Comments

  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #2
    Don't go by MY horrible example!!!!
    I dunno...my ignorance was bliss! 6 weeks after surgery, and 2 weeks after getting the drains removed, I did my first Relay For Life. My sister and her husband came to the Relay ( their first as well) and stayed in a local hotel for the weekend. I live in California wine country and not only did I drink wine the night of the Relay,at the hotel I sat in a hot tub with my "affected" arm raised out of the hot water! I realize I hadn't started chemo yet, but that was only the beginning of my bad behavior! No, I didn't get drunk, but my chemo was during the summer months, and being that I didn't ask, and no one said I shouldn't~ I went to outdoor concerts all summer long at wineries and ate and drank and pretended I wasn't sick from chemo or anything else! So many world famous wineries are in my backyard, so to speak~ Firestone Brewery hosted local musician David Crosby and his "friend" Neil Young one night and I was there too~ drinking the local wine and whooooping at the concert with the singers of my mis-spent youth! I was wearing my wig, as it was public....LOL
    That was back in 2003~ and it's almost 2010; so I don't know what to tell you!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • Marlene_K
    Marlene_K Member Posts: 508
    #3
    chenheart said:

    Don't go by MY horrible example!!!!
    I dunno...my ignorance was bliss! 6 weeks after surgery, and 2 weeks after getting the drains removed, I did my first Relay For Life. My sister and her husband came to the Relay ( their first as well) and stayed in a local hotel for the weekend. I live in California wine country and not only did I drink wine the night of the Relay,at the hotel I sat in a hot tub with my "affected" arm raised out of the hot water! I realize I hadn't started chemo yet, but that was only the beginning of my bad behavior! No, I didn't get drunk, but my chemo was during the summer months, and being that I didn't ask, and no one said I shouldn't~ I went to outdoor concerts all summer long at wineries and ate and drank and pretended I wasn't sick from chemo or anything else! So many world famous wineries are in my backyard, so to speak~ Firestone Brewery hosted local musician David Crosby and his "friend" Neil Young one night and I was there too~ drinking the local wine and whooooping at the concert with the singers of my mis-spent youth! I was wearing my wig, as it was public....LOL
    That was back in 2003~ and it's almost 2010; so I don't know what to tell you!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥

    HAHA!
    Well 7 years later, I guess you're telling me they don't know what they're talking about, lol! That's my drink of preference... I love my Merlot. I drank the weekend after my mastectomy, but am definitely concerned about drinking while on chemo as my doc said 'no drinking... period". I feel kinda stupid that I didn't say 'why not'???
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #4
    Marlene_K said:

    HAHA!
    Well 7 years later, I guess you're telling me they don't know what they're talking about, lol! That's my drink of preference... I love my Merlot. I drank the weekend after my mastectomy, but am definitely concerned about drinking while on chemo as my doc said 'no drinking... period". I feel kinda stupid that I didn't say 'why not'???

    This is what I found online!

    Q: While I’m on chemotherapy, can I still have a glass of wine or a beer with dinner?

    A: Drinking alcohol—whether wine, beer, or liquor—may interfere with some chemotherapy drugs and can cause dehydration. Find out from your doctor or others on your health care team if having one drink with dinner is okay with the chemotherapy medication you’re taking. We tell our patients not to have alcohol the day before, day of, and day after chemotherapy.

    Alcohol also can worsen some chemotherapy side effects, such as mouth sores. If the mouth becomes sore, alcohol can cause burning and additional dryness of the mouth. Some patients report that taste changes from chemotherapy or radiation to the head and neck make alcohol less enjoyable.

    If it doesn’t conflict with your treatment medication, having a drink with dinner might help you relax and improve your appetite. But limit yourself to one drink. Excessive drinking is dangerous. Be sure your doctor knows the amount of alcohol you were drinking before treatment began, so you can get help with cutting back now if needed.
    --Kathy Newman, RN, BSN

    If you’re experiencing an upset stomach or nausea from chemotherapy, try a soothing cup of homemade ginger tea between or during meals.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #5
    My understanding is taht
    My understanding is taht alcohol works against the chemo drugs and does not allow them to do their job as they should. Alcohol can also be a 'triggering' (for lack of better/more medical word) for cancer. At both of my chemo education sessions it was emphasized that alcohol should be avoided.
  • Whoknowz
    Whoknowz Member Posts: 82
    #6
    Mine said it's OK
    Maybe it depends on what you're getting. I take taxotere and cytoxan, and my doctor told me it's OK to drink. I love my wine, but my taste has been so off that I haven't tried it -- yet.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #7
    Whoknowz said:

    Mine said it's OK
    Maybe it depends on what you're getting. I take taxotere and cytoxan, and my doctor told me it's OK to drink. I love my wine, but my taste has been so off that I haven't tried it -- yet.

    My LFTs have been affected
    My LFTs have been affected by the chemo, not the ones that are usuaually up with cancer and my scan was neg as well as other labs. so not only do I not drink i dont take tylenol. of course I have had alot of stomac h issues so not really interested, and I dont drink much anyway. though I often think i should start. I REALL"Y miss coffee though!!!!
  • xskeetshooter
    xskeetshooter Member Posts: 169
    #8
    dont drink if you want the chemo to work
    i dont understand why people dont take docs advice, there is a reason, so just follow orders if you want to survive this
  • blazytracy
    blazytracy Member Posts: 157
    #9
    Hey Marlene!
    OK, yes, I have had only one chemo 3 days ago and have been drinking water ever since but last night I was a bit stressed out and had 2 drinks (I like my whiskey with diet pepsi haha) and it really didn't taste that good - that is all I drink when I drink so not really any other choice I have when I do feel like having one.

    I was fine last night and feel fine today, I have not had any nausea either AT ALL from chemo so that is good..actually I haven't noticed any side effects at all from my first chemo. I have read that it may be cumulative so my effects may get worse as I have 7 chemos left.

    I truly do not believe that one or two drinks is going to hurt anything but that is just me Marlene. Good luck with what you decide. When I go to my 2nd chemo, I will ask and see what they say.

    Tracy
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143 Member
    #10
    I drank
    in moderation and it was fine. My onc. said that alcohol would not interfere with my chemo regimen (TAC). I drank right after my first infusion, even. Ask your doc. the reason. Sometimes it's because they don't want you to get dehydrated or alcohol can worsen some chemo side effects. Good luck.

    Mimi
  • e_hope
    e_hope Member Posts: 370
    #11
    I don't know.. but I drank
    I don't know.. but I drank on a few occasions during my chemo adventure this summer. I only drank when it was my off week of chemo, and never over did it.

    For me it helped me to feel "normal" to be with friends and have a few drinks. LOL.. those few time I did have a cocktail.. I would get the best night sleeps...
  • jennytwist
    jennytwist Member Posts: 896
    #12
    e_hope said:

    I don't know.. but I drank
    I don't know.. but I drank on a few occasions during my chemo adventure this summer. I only drank when it was my off week of chemo, and never over did it.

    For me it helped me to feel "normal" to be with friends and have a few drinks. LOL.. those few time I did have a cocktail.. I would get the best night sleeps...

    I didn't drink during
    chemo - my Dr said no.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #13
    jennytwist said:

    I didn't drink during
    chemo - my Dr said no.

    My doc never said anything
    My doc never said anything about it. but like I said its not wise for me to do so. But anything in moderation..... I would ask my doc though and ask why and if once in awhole is ok.
    off subject but I was told not to get manicures, or pedis I am dying for one. If i push the cuticles back does it matter?
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #14
    carkris said:

    My doc never said anything
    My doc never said anything about it. but like I said its not wise for me to do so. But anything in moderation..... I would ask my doc though and ask why and if once in awhole is ok.
    off subject but I was told not to get manicures, or pedis I am dying for one. If i push the cuticles back does it matter?

    I got pedicures every 3
    I got pedicures every 3 weeks while on chemo. The important thing is that they do not cut the cuticle back. That's due to a chance of infection. So, I haven't had the cuticles cut but I do still get the pedicure.
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #15
    MyTurnNow said:

    I got pedicures every 3
    I got pedicures every 3 weeks while on chemo. The important thing is that they do not cut the cuticle back. That's due to a chance of infection. So, I haven't had the cuticles cut but I do still get the pedicure.

    I also had pedicures during chemo
    I also had pedicures during chemo--the neuropathy in my feet was so bad that to get my feet soaked and especially lotioned and massaged for an hour was heavenly bliss personified! I did not let them cut either; as a matter of fact I got a nice pedicure set at a beauty supply and that was what I took with me, so as to hopefully avoid any infections. I was just fine!

    Hugs,
    C♥
  • Marlene_K
    Marlene_K Member Posts: 508
    #16
    blazytracy said:

    Hey Marlene!
    OK, yes, I have had only one chemo 3 days ago and have been drinking water ever since but last night I was a bit stressed out and had 2 drinks (I like my whiskey with diet pepsi haha) and it really didn't taste that good - that is all I drink when I drink so not really any other choice I have when I do feel like having one.

    I was fine last night and feel fine today, I have not had any nausea either AT ALL from chemo so that is good..actually I haven't noticed any side effects at all from my first chemo. I have read that it may be cumulative so my effects may get worse as I have 7 chemos left.

    I truly do not believe that one or two drinks is going to hurt anything but that is just me Marlene. Good luck with what you decide. When I go to my 2nd chemo, I will ask and see what they say.

    Tracy

    Let me know
    what they tell you, Tracy. I will ask my oncologist when I see him again on Tuesday. Yea, that's another thing! I have to see him EVERY week. I'm gonna go broke on co-pays. I'm also planning to ask him that. I can see going the week I have chemo and if I have a problem, but my blood work has been excellent and I haven't had a need to see him other than him telling me I'm doing excellent... for THAT I have to pay $30???
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #17
    I asked my ONC. if I could
    I asked my ONC. if I could have a Margarita with the girls if I wanted one and he said sure, but I probably wouldn't want it....as it turned out, he was right...everything tasted yucky to me on chemo. I have learned that wine is good for the skin while on rads though...and my taste is back... :)
  • Marlene_K
    Marlene_K Member Posts: 508
    #18
    mimivac said:

    I drank
    in moderation and it was fine. My onc. said that alcohol would not interfere with my chemo regimen (TAC). I drank right after my first infusion, even. Ask your doc. the reason. Sometimes it's because they don't want you to get dehydrated or alcohol can worsen some chemo side effects. Good luck.

    Mimi

    Mimi
    I never realized you had the same cocktail as me! I see tons that have AC or CT but none that had Taxotere as well. Do you know why? Have you ever looked into the benefit of having all 3?
  • Marlene_K
    Marlene_K Member Posts: 508
    #19
    carkris said:

    My doc never said anything
    My doc never said anything about it. but like I said its not wise for me to do so. But anything in moderation..... I would ask my doc though and ask why and if once in awhole is ok.
    off subject but I was told not to get manicures, or pedis I am dying for one. If i push the cuticles back does it matter?

    No THIS
    I was never told! I got rid of my tips and have just a thin coat of filler put on the top with just a clear top coat. I haven't been for a pedicure yet, as I only do those once in a while. I generally take care of my own feet, but I planned on going soon. Were you given a reason?
  • Marlene_K
    Marlene_K Member Posts: 508
    #20
    chenheart said:

    I also had pedicures during chemo
    I also had pedicures during chemo--the neuropathy in my feet was so bad that to get my feet soaked and especially lotioned and massaged for an hour was heavenly bliss personified! I did not let them cut either; as a matter of fact I got a nice pedicure set at a beauty supply and that was what I took with me, so as to hopefully avoid any infections. I was just fine!

    Hugs,
    C♥

    My own set
    My salon also gave me my own set. I bring it with me every time I go. I think it's a great idea and plan to always do that. It IS smart when you think about it!
  • Marlene_K
    Marlene_K Member Posts: 508
    #21
    dyaneb123 said:

    I asked my ONC. if I could
    I asked my ONC. if I could have a Margarita with the girls if I wanted one and he said sure, but I probably wouldn't want it....as it turned out, he was right...everything tasted yucky to me on chemo. I have learned that wine is good for the skin while on rads though...and my taste is back... :)

    Maybe I'm lucky....
    Or maybe it just hasn't started yet, but my taste buds haven't been affected yet. I had my 2nd treatment a week ago. How long does it take for that to happen? Wine is my drink of choice, for sure, and there are many good things that come from drinking wine. But from some reading I've been doing, they seem to be linking breast cancer with drinking, so that definitely concerns me. I DO still have one left and I hope to GOD I can keep it. I think a 2nd diagnosis would floor me!

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