Drinking alcohol whilst having treatment for stage 4 prostate cancer

Hi I have stage4 prostate cancer ,and currently just finished radiation treatment and I have just started adt hormone treatment .a month ago.

No side effects to talk of so hopefully that will continue .

my question is a strange one but it concerns alcohol consumption given my condition.

i enjoy two small beers and a glass of red wine most days early evening But I see on the net there is conflicting opinions about the ramifications of this .

life is about quality as well as quantity so I am loathe to stop but?

Any one have any advice on this as it’s pointless having treatment if this is reducing the benefits .

thank you

  • This is a question you really need to put to your treating doctors.

    When my wife was going through treatment, she asked this question and was told there were certain treatments that she would be allowed to drink on, and when she was put on chemo that had the potential to seriously damage her liver, she was told she would have to refrain from drinking because compromised liver function can mean your liver is unable to handle the toxicity from the alcohol.

    Simply put, one type of chemo was fine, the second chemo regime wasn't safe to mix with alcohol. The second chemo began to cause liver damage towards the end, so this backed up the doctor's claims. It really is all about getting advice from those treating you and you should never blindy add any sort of toxicity into the mix regardless of what others may tell you on here or elsewhere on the internet.

  • Hi Cbrccc

    Depends how healthy your liver is.

    After radiotherapy your body will be working hard to repair the damage inside you. Give your body a chance by stopping drinking or if you are habituated try one beer less.

    35 units a week is regarded as enough to cause you damage

    Its up to you really, it is pointless having treatment if you just throw away all that hard work done by staff and yourself and £ thousands spent on your treatment.

    This is not the answer you wanted I know.

    I have enjoyed a beer or two every day for 40 years but have given up now I'm on immunotherapy to give myself a fighting chance. I enjoy a drink but I value the company of my wife children and grandchildren much more.

    We are both in the Last Chance Saloon so to speak and we make our choices.

    Ed

  • Hi , thank you for your reply And I will ask my doctors when I visit them .

    i can quit if I have to but I have heard a glass of wine or two may be good for me and as  I  am single and  never married I  have only myself to consider.

    i stay active and exercise regular in the gym and  stay very fit as i always have including playing golf  4 times a week  and I am hoping this will help me fight the disease and deal with any side effects .

    so maybe a drink or two won’t change the outcome.

    fingers crossed and I wish you good luck for the future .

  • Wine being good for you is a fallacy. No amount of alcohol is good for you, even healthy people. Any goodness in red wine is nullified by the alcohol being a toxin. The good stuff in red wine can be found in larger quantities in other foods. I'm not preaching to you because i drink myself.

    You really need to make sure before you drink whether it may cause damage to your liver (some meds compromise liver function) or interfere with the drugs you are taking. There's every chance your treating doctor will tell you a glass of wine here and there is fine, so always ask. But it's ultimately up to you. It's your body and your health to do as you wish.

  • Hi Cbrccc

    The other side of the coin is that if you've been given a new lease of life and a drink is something that you very much enjoy you should just have it..

    I too am a very active person and fit for my age I think it helps with all aspects of life including coping with cancer.

    I agree about the balance of quality and quantity of life. Or put another way being alive longer or living longer there is a subtle difference.

    Cheers

    Ed