Alcohol after treatment is anybody still drinking?

davidgskinner said:

yes...I agree
While I think it would be dumb to overdo it, being paranoid about alcohol, etc. is unlikely to make much difference to most of us here. I don't drink at all anymore, but I don't drink because I chose not too long before cancer came into my life. Seriously, one or two drinks that YOU decide to have to enjoy yourself with friends once in a while probably will do more for your attitude (which matters a lot) than over-worrying about whether it is going to be the nail in your coffin. Live. Decide for yourself...and don't judge what someone else decides to do. All of us here are more acutely aware of death's proximity than the average person. So in my opinion we should cherish everything that is enjoyable in our lives.

Sorry I can't help but judge when people smoke
Sorry I can't help but judge when people smoke. I am the one with oral cancer yet I have to take care of my selfish father who refuses to quit smoking. There are other people to think about in your life, your spouse, your children etc. What gives us the right to expect them to take care of us when we did the damage to ourselves through smoking or drinking. I have a cousin that has permanent neropathy from over drinking and OUR taxes take care of her and she still drinks. My father is literally drowning in his own fluids from COPD, my kids, husband and I are taking care of him and he still smokes and WE also pay for him through our taxes. My mother died at 62 from smoking related causes and my grandmother died of lung cancer 30 years after she quit. Sometimes in life you have to choose others over your own selfish wants. We know cancer can be caused by smoking or drinking, how could you possibly risk putting yourself and more importantly your family through all of this again? Moderation has nothing to do with it, they cause cancer and other diseases period. I guess it's just priorities, what's most important to you. One last thing, as I was leaving the hospital after my surgery, my husband and I saw a guy smoking through a hole in his neck with fresh surgical tape still on it. I was repulsed beyond words.

rozaroo said:

Alcohol
Before I was gifted with cancer I was fit, healthy & only drank on friday night's. I miss the occasional glass of wine. However, it now burn's but I do enjoy the taste of beer. My
Dr mentioned to go ahead as he know's I would not abuse it. I have also found alcohol free beer & wine that is enjoyable. I also refuse to preach or judge anyone as I am not living
their life & it is unfair to do so. In my opinion whatever work's for you is ok by me.

Beer
I asked my Doctor and he said a beer once in a while is ok. I think I average about 2-3 a month. If more cancer is found down the road I will not blame the beer

mswijiknyc said:

Drinking
As I sit here in the ER with my husband, I read your post. He's been a drinker and a smoker most of his life. We both know this will not end well and beer is all he has left. I'm not going to take that away from him.

I'm With You On This One

My husband only has maybe 6 mos - 1 yr at best. If he wants to smoke & drink I just let him. He can't enjoy his food anymore because his tastebuds are shot. He doesn't have strength to do the things he used to like to do. On the 6th he's going for another round of chemo so that will make him feel even worse. If he wants to drink his **** off and smoke (but not in the house) I just let him. Everyone needs something.

Skipper

Skiffin16 said:

IPA
As in Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA....;)

skiffin16
IPA is short for Indian Pale Ale...in Oregon ...We have so many breweries in this state that make their own brand of handcrafted beers you would have trouble trying them all...After a day of a parched, dry mouth.at times... a couple beers make me at least think i have my salivary glands back...Wine taste like pure Alcohol...ugh...Never tried Dogfish Head.. Sounds like a fun one to taste...

ekdennie said:

drinking
I would only drink for special events before diagnosis, I don't see that changing now. I had a couple of sips at a christmas party...it hurt, but everything hurt. I will have some bubbly for new year's. I don't see hard alcohol in my near future, but some wine will be there. my tumor didn't have any known risk factors...could happen to anyone, at any time, no matter your age. if I had a different type of cancer I would probably feel different about drinking, but what I know about my type I see no harm in it, every now and then anyway!

I drink very rarely (3 or 4
I drink very rarely (3 or 4 drinks a year)
I had a part of a mojito in August and it was delicious.
I am planning on having some sparkly something or other on New Years.
My cancer was HPV and not related to the drinking I rarely do, or smoking which I never did.
I generally agree with the moderation approach, unless it is crafting, facebook or gummi bears, all of which I consistently overindulge in.

Stacey

Jimbo55 said:

Question
Deb's doc said her cancer was derived from HPV and saw no causative relationship between the cancer and either drinking or smoking. He stated that there was no reason why she couldn't have alcohol, albeit in extreme moderation. So my question is this: even though the cancer is HPV related, wouldn't smoking or drinking after treatment be a high risk activity? Personally I think if one wants to have the occasional glass of wine etc, go for it. Wouldn't smoking or drinking increase one's chances of having a recurrence of the cancer even if it was originally HPV related? Cheers

Jimbo

Here are the dangers
This is the list I have derived from my research that we shouldn't do to avoid recurrance
no alcohol
no smoking
no preservatives
no meat
no dairy
no food colourings
no aerosols
no car fumes
no deisel fumes
no sunshine uv
no petro chemicals
no fruit and veg that is not organic
no sugar
no flour
no rice
no bread
i can't think of the rest right now but please..... They have us running scared on everything and I thnk that it is an unrealistic way to live once you have lived that way for soooo long. There is always going to be something that we shouldn't do or eat. Who really knows the answers. Definately not me but I chose to live and love the life that I have. We can't control our destiny but we can control how we enjoy it. Enjoy everyone and everything including the new you xxxxx

pascotty said:

Here are the dangers
This is the list I have derived from my research that we shouldn't do to avoid recurrance
no alcohol
no smoking
no preservatives
no meat
no dairy
no food colourings
no aerosols
no car fumes
no deisel fumes
no sunshine uv
no petro chemicals
no fruit and veg that is not organic
no sugar
no flour
no rice
no bread
i can't think of the rest right now but please..... They have us running scared on everything and I thnk that it is an unrealistic way to live once you have lived that way for soooo long. There is always going to be something that we shouldn't do or eat. Who really knows the answers. Definately not me but I chose to live and love the life that I have. We can't control our destiny but we can control how we enjoy it. Enjoy everyone and everything including the new you xxxxx

I think you may be missing
I think you may be missing the point of my question which is: once someone has had H&N cancer, would one be susceptible to recurrence from drinking/smoking even though the original cause was HPV? Deb's doc seems to be saying the opposite, hence the question.

I am not advocating on one side or the other. I agree with you, we can't live life in a bubble. Cheers

Jimbo

Jimbo55 said:

I think you may be missing
I think you may be missing the point of my question which is: once someone has had H&N cancer, would one be susceptible to recurrence from drinking/smoking even though the original cause was HPV? Deb's doc seems to be saying the opposite, hence the question.

I am not advocating on one side or the other. I agree with you, we can't live life in a bubble. Cheers

Jimbo

Hey jimbo
Sorry mate I wasn't directing that at you. I was just having a moment of frustration. The hardest thing is watching everyone around you doing and eating and drinking all these things without a care in the world. I enjoy the post and questions and love reading the responses. I don't know the answer to your question and I don't believe anyone else does. They are all calculated guesses. I have made dramatic changes to my diet and lifestyle. I'm glad I did. Then other times I miss my old lifestyle tastebuds and saliva. Cheers my friend. Jen xxxx

Skiffin16 said:

It's All Good Discussion
Charles, it's all good discussion...you and everyone on here have their own personal feelings and thoughts. Sometimes we all get a little defensive and tend to overstate our feelings and thoughts.

I don't think anyone really means to step on anyone elses toes. In realitity, I think we all really want each other to survive. We just are so passionate about it, that sometimes we come across a little over bearing. I know that I do it at times, and when I read comments of others, it tends to PO me a little also. I guess that's just human nature.

The one thing that I do know..we are all in this together. It doesn't matter on how or why, we all have been infected and affected in some way. We are all here because we want to be, and we want to share and help others.

We want you and everyone of us to be here longer. To make the journey more tolerable and quality as best we can. It's all about giving, and giving back...we all do that just by participating.

Don't take anything to the point that you feel you can't express yourself....that's what we are all about.

Best to all, and Happy Holidays,
John

TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD
I agree with skiff. I find this post to be of more help to me than bad, but there are things on here that I would rather not read. The "lifestyle" issue is a hot topic, as we all ended up here probably from some form(s) of abuse. I have ZERO medical history in my family for cancer, but still got it. (I am the first one in my family for at least 5 generations that I know of.)
I have allot of cardiac history in my family, and never have had any type of heart related issue. I only had High BP and since cancer has caused me to lose 65 LBS, My Doc has taken me off of my BP meds. Go figure???

Anyway, I would take all of this in stride and just make your own choice. If I were a big smoker, I would probably quit or cut way back, I I were a huge drinker I would probably do the same. I do know that for me, going 100% Vegan is not for me, but trying to eat better in general is for me. I will change the way I drink going forward, but for me to never have a beer again is not realistic for me.

Let's not forget we all have one thing in common, and that is we are all cancer survivors, and we need to be there for one another even if the topic might sting a bit.


BEST!!!

Mike

alwaysforhim said:

morbid obesity
King,
I was reading your comments, and I was wondering how do you feel when you see a morbid obese person eat? They are also putting their health in jeopardy. Please don't take me wrong, I understand your frustration, but we wouldn't understand unless we are there. Pretty much everything my spouse enjoyed before cancer has been taken from him. He was an active scuba diver, but due to energy, and lack of saliva he hasn't been able to do it for months. So if him enjoying a wine cooler once in awhile makes him happy, then let him enjoy it.

The problem with obesity is we have to eat.
The problem with obesity is we have to eat. I'm fat, but luckily I got cancer so now I'm losing it(according to many people). I've been called many names by complete strangers because of my weight. People are pretty evil sometimes. I have to eat, I don't have to drink or smoke. I used to drink in fact quite alot.I haven't for years and years, it holds no interest for me, especially now. Why take the risk? Is one wine cooler once in awhile worth it? Unfortunately alwaysforhim, I have to eat and I'm sorry if my being obese offends you because I have an opinion. I didn't take you wrong I read you loud and clear.