| | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 49 "OCF Down Under" Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  "OCF Down Under" Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 49 | What's the consensus with alchohol post oral cancer? I've never been a heavy drinker but do like a cold beer in summer. One of my doctors (the maxiofacial surgeon) said to stay right away from it in future but another said it was fine in moderation. Keen to hear your thoughts and experiences with this issue...thanks 
Last edited by monicacc; 12-26-2010 06:32 AM.
Monica,33 Mum of 3. Former smoker
SCC right lateral tongue. Intially thought to be cell dysplasia and dx as SCC after surgical excision.
Nov 2010- partial glossectomy (1cm in width), partial neck dissection. Margins clear, nothing found in nodes- YAY! Benign tumor on saliva gland.
| | | | | 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 | My docs said drinking with moderation of course was OK for me. I was never a heavy drinker although after some parties I woke up with a hangover! Initially and perhaps for at least a year post Tx I didn't drink at all but slowly my taste for beer returned and I have one every now and then and I enjoy them.
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: 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 | My doc told me drinking was not a good idea. He wouldnt come right out and forbid it but just told me to watch myself and try to avoid it. Since Ive had OC 3 times and not taken a sip of alchol, I cant blame the recurrences on the booze. Last summer I toasted my son turning legal age with a pina coloda and boy was it the best thing Ive ever tasted!
Im sure Charm will speak up, we used to have opposite opinions on this topic. Anything done in moderation, like having a beer occasionally should not hurt you. Beer and wine are probably better than drinking hard liquor like the rum in my pina colada.
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: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 | Monica, I too wrestled with this question and still do occasionally. I was a regular drinker of wine and beer all my adult life and always loved it. (your Shirazes are wonderful... sigh...)
My RO told me in no uncertain terms: don't drink; you can have a glass of champagne on new year's eve but dot's eet! (she doesn't drink)
My MO told me: there's no reason you shouldn't enjoy wine if you don't go overboard. (he's a wine drinker and at one point we discussed Cabernet vintages)
My decision: sadly, I'm siding with my RO. Not because I think she's smarter than the other doc (they're both great) but because I figure why take the chance? Since I much prefer breathing to drinking it's not that tough a decision. Making it easier is the fact that when I've taken the tiniest sip of red wine - once a year ago and again at Thanksgiving - it tasted bitter, horrible. (haven't tried a beer because I have a feeling I'd like it too much...)
Meanwhile my friends are making out like bandits with the remains of my modest cellar.
I'll follow this thread with interest!
David 2
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 329 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 329 | I never did ask my Dr. if I could have a drink. I'm not much of a drinker. A few months ago I went to Happy Hour with my friends when I go out with them I have Diet Coke...Well this time I thought I'd like to have an adult beverage they're having so much fun big mistake, I had 4 Rum and Diet Cokes I was sick for 2 days. Never again!!! My mouth burned, my tongue felt triple the size and I didn't get up from my lazy boy for 2 days. It wasn't worth it, never happening again.
That's about all I can contribute to drinking.
Connie
SCC. of the left lateral tongue, anterior two thirds, T1 possibly a T2.
Left partial glossectomy, left selective neck dissection 4/21/09. Nodes clean, No Rad, No Chemo.
CT Scan 9/11 clean, CT Scan 9/12 clean
Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. A+.
My hometown Lockport, NY.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I have never been a drinker except for a sip at weddings. My Dr told me that id I was a drinker to stop. LOL Told him no problem and I won't drink anymore or less. david, maybe your system can't handle booze. LOL I bet you are funny half lit tho.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | I am a recovering alcoholic with over 15 years sobriety, so drinking, for me, is not an option.
My impression is, that since most alcoholics lie about their drinking, especially consumption rates, that most doctors take the high ground and discourage it.
And, after all, there is a well defined relationship between heavy alcohol and/or tobacco consumption and OC.
But, if you are a "normie" and truly can drink like one (and you know who you are) then an occasional drink probably isn't going to harm you.
Last edited by Gary; 12-26-2010 11:18 AM.
Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 329 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 329 | I tested the water it wasn't pleasant. Of course, not having a drink for almost 2 years 4 in one night through me for a loop. I'd rather go out and watch them make asses out of themselves, tell them the next day what they did and said, that's much more fun.
Congrats on your sobriety.
Connie
SCC. of the left lateral tongue, anterior two thirds, T1 possibly a T2.
Left partial glossectomy, left selective neck dissection 4/21/09. Nodes clean, No Rad, No Chemo.
CT Scan 9/11 clean, CT Scan 9/12 clean
Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. A+.
My hometown Lockport, NY.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Monica
You've seen the "consensus", but as Christine warned you, I'm the resident OCF contrarian. All my doctors (ENT, RO, MO, protodontist) said that beer or wine was fine but no hard spirits or liquor. The issue is now moot for me, since with the feeding tube, there is zero risk to my oral tissues when I have my daily two or three glasses of wine.
A cold beer in the summer, IMO, is just what the doctor ordered. Unfortunately beer now fizzes up too much when syringed and the resultant foam does not do travel well down a feeding tube. But a nice cold Tecate was my daily drink that cooled off all the radiation and chemo damage to my throat and pumped up the pain pills just a notch. Plus it gave me extra calories (since I didn't use a PEG).
As far as having a drink causing recurrence, lots of OCF posters have scrupulously avoided demon alcohol yet their cancer came back anyway. I can't imagine letting Cancer take even more enjoyment from my life than it has, and I make sure to put my wine in a nice glass to clink with my wife even though I use a syringe.
Keep the Faith
Charm
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: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 | My ENT said an occasional glass of wine or a beer probably wouldn't hurt, but right now, even a glass of communion wine has a tendency to burn my mouth, and it doesn't taste very good to me, either.
Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.
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