alcohol

Hi tonyand denise
Alcohol is a No-no! I do not now if it is the sugar, but sorry - not on the menu! I am sure the veterans on this site will post more info. Prayers, Patty

tasted bad
Hi Tonya and Denise, not a good idea, so of course I tried it. I haven't drank beer in thirty years, but tried a martini. It tasted very bad, went through the roof of my mouth like too much horseradish. I think alcohol in any form won't taste like it did.

Hal

D Lewis said:

Alcohol
Alcohol is a carcinogen. I read a technical article that really scared me about how the alcohol interacts with your cells and can cause cellular mutations that can lead to cancer. If I can find the article, I will post the link here. Seeing as how we've all been diagnosed with cancers of tonsils, tongue, throat, and such like, I worry that we may be expecially vulnerable.

We are advised to avoid alcohol in mouthwashes because it really burns our sensitive mucosa. I'm not so sure that simply rinsing with alcohol would have the same carcinogenic effect.

Deb

More alcohol
Here is one such link:

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa21.htm

It says:

Epidemiologic Research

The strongest link between alcohol and cancer involves cancers of the upper digestive tract, including the esophagus, the mouth, the pharynx, and the larynx (3). Less consistent data link alcohol consumption and cancers of the liver, breast, and colon (3).

and:

Upper digestive tract. Chronic heavy drinkers have a higher incidence of esophageal cancer than does the general population. The risk appears to increase as alcohol consumption increases (4-6). An estimated 75 percent of esophageal cancers in the United States are attributable to chronic, excessive alcohol consumption (7).

Nearly 50 percent of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, and larynx are associated with heavy drinking (7). People who drink large quantities of alcohol over time have an increased risk of these cancers as compared with abstainers (8,9). If they drink and smok e, the increase in risk is even more dramatic (5,6).

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These numbers probably don't reflect the latest information on the role of HPV-16 and other versions of the HPV virus, and their role in cancers of the mouth, pharynx and larynx. In any event, the information is pretty scary.

Deb

Skiffin16 said:

Alcohol is a Carcinogen
Isn't everything......

Alcohol
I'm 39 years old and have HPV positive SCC unknown primary. I throughout my adult life have enjoyed the occasional beer. My cancer was certainly not caused by drinking a handful of drinks a month.
I have had surgery only up to this point...the primary was never found, it may have gone away, but if it shows up via exams or scans then they'll do radiation and be able to target it better.
I still plan on enjoying the occasional beer, greasy bacon cheeseburger, and iced coffees. My doctor is not concerned about light alcohol consumption and I trust him.
I am going to enjoy the life I have left and will be very reasonable in doing so...I'm a big fan of moderation.

dogsrule said:

no restrictions
I asked my doctor if it was ok to have an occasional glass of wine or beer. He said that there were no restrictions. I have indulged a little. I would really have been bummed out if he said no wine. I love wine...in moderation of course.

85%
I've read that they estimate the cause of 85% of H&N to be alcohol and tobacco-related, for what it's worth.

kcass

Kent Cass said:

85%
I've read that they estimate the cause of 85% of H&N to be alcohol and tobacco-related, for what it's worth.

kcass

Alcohol
Hubby & I were out last weekend & I took a sip of his beer. I was so dissapointed it tasted terrible. Have all my taste bud's back but obviously not in the booze department lol!

Kent Cass said:

85%
I've read that they estimate the cause of 85% of H&N to be alcohol and tobacco-related, for what it's worth.

kcass

No Expert
I'm by no way an expert, but I'd presume those estimates to be more inline with H&N before HPV came on the scene.

Joel4 said:

Alcohol
I'm 39 years old and have HPV positive SCC unknown primary. I throughout my adult life have enjoyed the occasional beer. My cancer was certainly not caused by drinking a handful of drinks a month.
I have had surgery only up to this point...the primary was never found, it may have gone away, but if it shows up via exams or scans then they'll do radiation and be able to target it better.
I still plan on enjoying the occasional beer, greasy bacon cheeseburger, and iced coffees. My doctor is not concerned about light alcohol consumption and I trust him.
I am going to enjoy the life I have left and will be very reasonable in doing so...I'm a big fan of moderation.

I agree
with Joel4, I drank maybe 2-3 beers a year at best, and I still got cancer. If I feel like a beer, I'm going to have one and enjoy it. My uncle was an alcoholic and never had cancer. Not that he didn't die to a alcohol related disease. But it wasn't cancer that took him.

Irishgypsie said:

ETOH
Hey this post came up before so I know that everyone had different opinions on this. I won't sit here and say that in my life a may never have a sip again. But I do know I least won't have a sip within the next 2 years. I guess I'm not sure; I think I'm like everyone else I would be afraid. My tumor was HPV+ and i didn't smoke so i know that HPV was the main culprit. I know that Kimba had stated that the 2 year mark was a big milestone. I always thought it was 5 years; at least that what my doctor still says. Maybe I'll end up being the type that when at a social event I order a glass of beer or wine and just hold it and don't drink it.

Charles

Another Difference In Opinions
Charles, like you I had always thought five years was the magic milestone. My ENT feels that the first year is a very big milestone, with year two being even bigger.....