I have read that avacados can help prevent, even cure, OC. But no place have I read just how much avacado you need to eat to make it effective. Any updats? Opinions? Facts?

I also have read that if you've had oc, you should give up alcohol.

I drink maybe 1-3 espresso martinis a week. Sometimes I go a month without having a drink. I asked my ent doctor. He told me not to worry.

What is the collective opinion on this topic?

Marlene

Marlene....

As far as cures go, surgery and radiation with or without chemo is what will help you to survive OC. While some food can help your body ward off different things, Im not a believer of a food source warding off cancer.

Drinking has been discussed on the forum relatively recently. Its up to the person, but many of us OC patients have been told by the docs not to drink. Just like dont smoke, dont drink either, its not worth the risk. It is a personal choice, but to me I dont drink at all. Just looking at the things that are risk factors makes me stay away from alchol.

Ive had OC twice and gone thru chemo, radiation, surgery and numerous hospital stays. I suffer from ongoing long lasting after effects which wont change probably ever. I prefer to not drink, smoke or believe in any easy ways to avoid OC.

In all the diet stuf, there is a degree of the negotiation stage of grief -- If I follow these rules, I won't get the disease -- Some of the rules make more sense than others, but none is a cure -- If avocados were truly effective, they would be too valuable to have on grocery store shelves! OTOH, some folks feel better doing *something*, and fruits and vegetables aren't a bad thing to do and may be helpful rather than harmful.

Opinions on alcohol vary. My RO had said beer was fine but not hard liquors. My ENT said no alcohol. For what it's worth, I was also a "social drinker" but ate tremendous amounts of avocado, especially after TX because the texture is so right. So the results of 14 months of eating massive avocado amounts: cancer recurrence in left tongue and lymph nodes.
Most definitely not scientific, but I don't think eating avocado is going to offset any alcohol damage, nor will it prevent or cure OC.

Amen Christine.

I was a beer drinker, not an every single day thing, but I probably stopped for a beer at the bowling alley about 2-3 times a week the year prior to my diagnosis. But for the 9 years prior to that I probably had less than 10 drinks a year. I was also a smoker though so I had two things going against me. But who knows, maybe I also had HPV because I have never been tested for it. But I have always eaten tons of avocados cuz I love guacamole.

After two surgeries, two radiation treatments, chemo, and the lasting effects of all of the above I think I can do without a drink or a cigarette for the rest of my life. I hope that it is a long, long, time.

Patty

My RO,ENTO and MO all say NO ALCOHOL what so ever!! I am a non smoker and only a vary limited social drinker before I was DX with OC. As you can see the opinions vary greatley. I will not have even one alcoholic drink!! Semper-Fi Bob

Marlene,

It's funny, I asked you this question in my thread. I'm glad you started this, I'm very interested in what people have to say.

I have to admit...sometimes I love a cold beer when I get home from work. I have just started to feel guilty about it. I guess there is no sense in doing it if I feel guilty.

I feel like I have 2 schools of thought and it depends on my mood. Sometimes I'm ready to eat healthy and exercise and other times I feel like get me a beer and cheese fries..life it too short to not have what I enjoy.

My bottom line? I think most things are ok in moderation. If I want a beer or a glass of wine while we wait for a table before dinner, I'm going to.

My RO said occasional alcohol was OK. I was a casual drinker before and now I only drink if we attend parties which is only about 6 a year and I only drink beer, sangria or champagne and never enough to regret it the next day. For whatever reason I'm a "cheap date" now as one or two drinks hit me just as much as 6 would before.

LOL...Cheap date. Ray and I don't party at all. We hang out on our couch all weekend long:) I guess that is why I indulge in a beer after work sometimes

I asked all my doctors about an occasional beer, wine with dinner or a holiday cordial. They all said it was fine without a hint of hesitation.

I have been having a glass of wine with dinner most weekends for the last couple of months but the few times I tried a beer it still tasted too strong.

On the food issue, I am closely following the rather amazing research on Black Raspberries and OC and I plan to plant some - although apparently they are not all that well suited to the coastal SoCal climate.

As for the avocados, I guess my avocado tree must be the wrong variety or something (maybe we need Florida avocados)