Is It Safe to Drink Alcohol During Chemotherapy?

Like most aspects of
chemotherapy, it is
really best to check
with your doctor
about whether or
not it is safe for
you to drink alcohol
during chemotherapy
treatment. Most
chemotherapy drugs
are not affected by
alcohol consumption,
but there are some
chemotherapy drugs
that can cause adverse
reactions or reduce the
effectiveness if alcohol
is consumed. One such
example is procarbazine.

While most chemotherapy
drugs are not affected by
alcohol use, many other medications prescribed along with chemotherapy
should
not be taken with alcohol. Medications such as pain killers, sleep aids, and anti-
nausea medications may interact with alcohol, causing adverse reactions.

The dehydrating effects of alcohol may also be a concern if you are
undergoing
chemotherapy, as you already have a heightened risk of dehydration
because of
your treatment. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common side
effects of
chemotherapy, and are also direct causes of dehydration. Add
alcohol into the
mix, and the dehydration effect is worsened.

How alcohol affects the liver is also something to take into consideration.
The liver processes all of the toxins in our body, including chemotherapy.
Alcohol can interfere with the liver's ability to effectively metabolize such
toxins.
Your doctor may recommend that you avoid alcohol altogether, especially
if you
already suffer from liver damage or are undergoing treatment of cancers
affecting
the liver.

Benefits to Consuming Moderate Amounts of Alcohol During

Chemotherapy

Keep in mind that drinking alcohol during chemotherapy isn't something
that is exactly encouraged, although it may be allowed for some
patients. If your doctor allows you
consume alcohol during chemotherapy, it will be recommended that it be
done in moderation. Your doctor will tell you how much alcohol
is safe for you to drink. Heavy drinking is never recommended.

Some oncologists recommend an occasional glass of wine to help
stimulate the
appetite in people who have lost their desire to eat. Small amounts of alcohol
may
also be recommended to help you relax. Of course, these recommendations
are made only after he or she evaluates the medications you are taking and
how alcohol may affect their efficacy.

* I asked my oncoloigist can I drink while having chemo? He said if you
feel like you can but most don't.
I could not drink red wine it made me feel really sick, but
bourbon was fine. Its good to still go out and have a drink, makes you feel
normal.

Comments

"Hard nipples" - areola or nipple skin

Someone once wrote"... when i get really cold, or get goosebumbs all over my body, the whole things really scrunch up, like, my entire areola scrunches itself up into a wrinkled little mound. it looks really weird and ugly, and i haven't ever seen other people's breasts do it. what is wrong with my areola/nipples??" The answer: Well nothing is wrong. This is what my areola does too. It's a normal reaction to the coldness or to irritation / stimulation. The little muscles in the areola do a similar goosebump thing as your other skin can do. People often call this phenomenon "hard nipples". Also note that skin on areola has less feeling or sensation to it than other areas of your body. If the areola was very sensitive, then breastfeeding would probably be quite uncomfortable because the baby pulls and tugs it! The nipples are sensitive but the sensitivity changes with hormonal changes, such as occur at mestrual cycle or pregnancy. Also this v...

Mastectomy Drain Breast Cancer Treatment

The purpose of drains after mastectomy is to drain away the fluid that can gather in the armpit region or around the scar on the chest wall. Some people after mastectomy also find that fluid gathers around the shoulder blade area on their back - this seems more common if the muscle from the back has been used for breast reconstruction at the time the mastectomy was done. When mastectomy is done - and especially if the lymph nodes are removed from the axilla or armpit - then there is a lot of tissue fluid and lymph fluid left with no where to go. This fluid normally flows through the lymph channels but if they are cut then it can escape into the normal skin and muscle tissues. Your surgeon will place drains under your skin after mastectomy. These drains gather up the fluid and remove it to a bottle (or bottles) that you carry around with you. Some people use a belt clip to attach the drain to their waistband - making them more mobile. Others car...

Youngest Breast Cancer Survivor

No one is immune to Breast Cancer. A four-year-old Canadian Girl, Aleisha Hunter, is reported to be the youngest Breast Cancer survivor in the world. On that note, she is also the youngest woman to ever have a mastectomy. At the age of two, her mother found a lump in her daughter's breast and the doctors confirmed that it was a very rare form of breast cancer. According to the article, less than five percent of women will have to have invasive breast cancer surgery before the age of 40. Luckily, this type of cancer is very slow moving and slow growing. So, she was able to be treated without chemotherapy and harsh radiation that would have harmed her developing immune system. I hope that she continues to heal and will realize how strong and special she is one day when she is older. Aleisha, you are strong and a survivor of a disease that claims a number of lives daily. Women and men alike have been stricken by Breast Cancer, although they are usually much older....

I am still a woman - Confessions of a twice cancer survivor - my journey by Nina Ann McCurley

Search This Blog