Malka--could you be talking about Jack Daniels?

My RO said no problem to ocassional beer or wine - he seems to heve a much stronger opinion against liquor. That worked for me as beer was always my drink of choice and a cold one going down does feel good on my pipes now. The taste is not as good as it once was but making a come back. Cheers to all for the Holidays.

Dianne,

I was told not to drink during the vital years, the years that have a high percentage of the cancer coming back--the first two years post tx. However, my RO told me not to drink at all forever. He explained that alcohol is strong enough to damage the cells in our mouth, he added for a healthy person it's not a big deal but for someone who has had OC the outcome can be detrimental. My RO also told me his patients that did not stop drinking or smoking after OC diagnosis did not make it, that cancer has always won. Now, even though he didn't tell me I know he was talking about excessive drinking...But why take that chance. I was never a hard drinker...maybe a few drinks here and there...maybe 1 or 2 cigars every year or two on special occasions. Maybe just a few drinks and 1 cigar a year was enough to give me cancer...The point is I don't know.

Will I go out and drink casually? No. Will I have a glass of wine at a wedding or special occasion? Yes, but not for a couple of years or so. Why take a chance during the vital years. Will I have a cigar if I ever have a child? ABSOLUTELY NOT. I'm addicted to breathing.

Once again thank you all for you imput...I just never realized what drinking had to do with oral cancer exactly. I understood having to do with liver kidney stomach and other parts but the mouth?...I understood smoking. Just seems all the "fun" stuff is bad. I never used to drink much either. Usually weddings, christmas new years and birthdays. So I rather doubt I will. This is probably nothing new to anybody here but it would be nice for a night or even a few hours of no pain and let loose. Seems to do that naturally has been harder than I anticipated. We still have fun but to let guards down seems to btake a few. Funny my friend and I used to go to bars and drink coffee. At the end of the night everyone thought we were as drunk as they were cause we fit in so well. We just had to let everyone else catch up to us on the crazy side... We were that naturally...So whether I will or wont have a drink I think I will go with the flow and how I feel. Right now it is a big fat Maybe lol

LOL, Dianne, you know you will have 1 or 2 drinks. Then you ccan have my share. Just don't fall off the stool and sue me.LOL You are such fun on here. I likes ya lady.

An oral surgeon told me that I shouldn't be using mouthwash with alcohol -- It's the irritant on the mouth cells that is the problem -- I asked him if it was OK, from a cancer standpoint, to shoot the stuf into my veins and he admitted that way would be alright, just not putting it into my mouth!

Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice!

Ray,
It was Johnny Walker Blue. It costs about $250.00 a bottle (maybe cheaper at Walmart??)

You know Jim I will probably wuss out as usual...I have too much trouble with my concience to begin with and if something happens I will think I caused it with a glass of wine or couple of beers over the holidays. I would just have to beat myself up. Wow starting to feel a lot of restriction like I did in my rebelleous teen age years...Can't do this can't have that...grrrrr...Only now I am old and know better...but this sucks...A whole new normal...no drinking no smoking what else can be taken away ...BUT WE ARE STILL ALIVE to complain about it!!!! not that all that stuff is so good for you anyway but they say breathing can be harmful to your health too!!! Happy Holidays ....

LOL I guess that's the good thing where you can say the devil made me do it. You could go with Pete's shoot it in the veins. If it works let me know and we'll get the staggers together Dianne.But on steps going down,, you have to go 1st.

Ok just be careful where I would lead you....you never know with the devil made me attitude...
hee heee...