Dave, I've grappled with this question as well. All my adult life I've enjoyed alcohol, generally beer and wine. I'd have a couple of glasses every night though rarely more than that. Never smoked.

When I finished treatment my RO told me this: you shouldn't drink alcohol any more; if you want to have a glass of champagne on new year's or your birthday, fine. But that's it.

She went on to explain that alcohol consumption, being one of the causative agents of our cancer - yours and mine, SCC - was something best avoided if I didn't want to risk a re-occurrence.

I know that other doctors feel differently, and this even includes the MO I consulted early in my treatment before it was decided that I wouldn't need chemo.

I really love wine. One of my favorites is your very own Aussie Shiraz, of which I have 10 or so very nice bottles left in my small collection that I'll eventually be giving to friends.

It pains me to do so, and with the weather getting hotter here in LA I'm facing a third summer without a cold beer at the end of the day...

But I decided that I prefer breathing to drinking.

My two cents.
David2