#86348 12-18-2008 11:36 AM | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 | Ok this is going to sound nieve but it is sincere. With everything we as survivors have gone through and what is known to cause this monster to grow, what is the deal with drinking. I am wondering if having a few drinks effects recouperation. I don't drink very much at all, but love a good glass of wine or beer now and again. So basically I am wondering to cheer or not to cheer? Sorry to ask and it has probably been discussed many times but for as long as I have been here still have trouble finding information..It's not the site it is me computer illiterate lol
Dianne..treatment at cc at Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario...insulin dependant, Surgery Sept 8/08 Tracheotomy,composite resection and bilateral neck dissection, left radial forearm free flap... T2N0 squamous cell carcinoma. No radiation A little over 2 yrs clear YAY
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Dianne
Your topic has been discussed and there were many opinions on it. Im not sure where to find the posts. Personally Im on the side of dont drink. My reasoning is if drinking is a contributer to oral cancer then I dont need anymore risk factors against me. Also my post radiation mouth would probably never be able to take the alcohol since I cant even drink a soda. Thats only my opinion. Im sure others will disagree with me. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 | That's what I needed Christine opinions and or facts...I don't or haven't but like I said Christmas, New Years and the odd birthday are times when I would normally have a drink or two...I am not a huge drinker. It has been a long while since I had one and like I said I don't wanna do something that would cause any further problems cause I already have issues of fear sore ear throat not sure if connected to surgery same side as tumor (have contacted doctor about this) but I really don't wanna give a hand to something that needs no help.
Dianne..treatment at cc at Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario...insulin dependant, Surgery Sept 8/08 Tracheotomy,composite resection and bilateral neck dissection, left radial forearm free flap... T2N0 squamous cell carcinoma. No radiation A little over 2 yrs clear YAY
| | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 228 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 228 | Shhh...I had an appletini about 2 months ago but honestly, it wasn't that good - I was just curious about how it would taste post treatment. Haha. I'm the type that might have a drink twice a year (and my first drink was when I turned 21 and now I'm 23) so I hold the opinion that drinking every so often is not going to up my chances for a recurrence, and red wine is good for the heart, right? But, I know that others have different opinions on the subject and everyone is in a different situation so what is good for one person may not be good for another. If in doubt, call your doctor up. I'm sure you wouldn't be the first person to bring the subject up.
Stephanie, 23, SCC on the right side of my tongue, surgery on 5-19-08, over half my tongue removed, free flap constructed from my forearm, bilateral neck dissection, one positive node. Radiation (32) and chemo (carboplatin) started on 6-16-08. Recurrence 4/09 in lungs.
**** Stephanie passed away 12.15.09.... RIP our dear friend****
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | For the 3 years after my first diagnosis and surgery, I didn't drink at all. Since my 2nd surgery, I will have a beer every now and then (rarely more than 1 or 2 a week) as IMHO, it didn't stop it from coming back! On any out of country vacation, I break my own 2/week rule but truth be told I find that even though I "could" drink sometimes, I just don't bother. A virgin Ceasar tastes the same as one with vodka.
My R.O. said he didn't see a problem with an occasional drink - in his words its hard to determine exactly what causes cancer to recur as "we don't live in a bubble".
I dont drink hard liquor at all,
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Doctors' opinions vary on alcohol post treatment. My ENT/surgeon says it's better not to drink at all. My RO says a glass of wine or beer a day is fine, just no hard liquor based on his patients's experience (he had noticed a definite link to hard liquor and reoccurence but then saw reoccurence where they had totally abstained from alcohol) . Both agree that if it bothers my mouth even a little, don't drink. I worry about the reports linking alcohol in Mouthwash to oral cancer. Yet I still have a beer or wine for special occasions and certainly plan to toast the Holidays. Just my choice - not a recommendation for others. I certainly am no longer a social drinker. 65 yr Old Frack Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+ 2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG 2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery 25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Apaghia /G button 2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa 40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I was told by my RO at Moffitt that I could have a drink every once in a while but believe me I tried a beer about 4 months post Tx and it tasted like crap. I tried another one 2 months later and it tasted OK a so I had a second one and I thought I was drunk. I was never much of a drinker but I could always hold more than 2. lol
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | I tried some beer and some wine and they *burned* back of tongue and throat -- The least burning came from a sweet white wine, but it was still there. I still don't taste sweet or sugar, but I do feel the effects (as in the wine) -- If I put sugar in coffee, I can't taste it but the coffee will be less bitter.
Age 67 1/2 Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05 Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08 Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08 Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06 Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08) Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08) On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
| | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 531 | Thanks folks as always given me a lot of information to digest and a lot of really good ideas...I have a call into dr already and am gonna ask them when I inquire to the pain experiencing...not sure why now but I am sure there is logic there somewhere. I just know one thing it is one or the other in connection to my t#3 and alcohol... so thanks again...
Dianne..treatment at cc at Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario...insulin dependant, Surgery Sept 8/08 Tracheotomy,composite resection and bilateral neck dissection, left radial forearm free flap... T2N0 squamous cell carcinoma. No radiation A little over 2 yrs clear YAY
| | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 681 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 681 | Last week we were a friend's house and he had a bottle of Johhny Walker Blue which he offered not to show off but because it was a gift and he wanted to share it. That stuff is so expensive it should be measured out with an eye dropper. I am not a fan of scotch but could not pass up the opportunity. WOW! It had a very smooth smokey almost burned taste which lingered for more than just a few minutes. It was not harsh like that "burned taste" scotch whose name I forget - it has a black and white label.
SCC stage II Partial mandibulectomy w. neck dissection- July 2005. Renal cancer w. partial nephrectomy-Jan 2004. Breast cancer discovered in routine mammogram. Successful lumpectomy, sentinal nodes clear, RT only-2008 Reconstruction of mandible w fibula free flap-Jan 09. TORS removal of begnin pappiloma from esophagus-2010. Masectomy,rt breast 2013. Support OCF
| | |
Forums23 Topics18,209 Posts197,040 Members13,222 | Most Online614 Jul 29th, 2024 | | | |