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What's life without a little whine?
Interesting thread.
Input from my oncologists has been as follows:
Alcohol should be avoided.
It's a lifestyle issue - if you enjoy a glass of wine, it is ok to have one. Occasionally. Just don't have 3.
Don't drink while on chemo - your liver is working hard enough already. But have a drink on your "off" week if you want.
and the best one, from an oncology nurse: if you have a history of drinking (in moderation) your liver is BETTER able to metabolize the chemo drugs so that's why you have less severe side effects!
That last one sounds pretty bizarre, but I can say from my experience I sailed through T/C/H while watching a teetotalling friend become completely unable to function while on the same chemo....maybe that's just rationalization...
Bottom line for me is, there is so much to stress about with mets, I try to be gentle with myself and allow myself to ENJOY the occasional glass of wine and dark chocolate. Then if/when it recurs and I need to get more chemo, I'll have to seriously (?) consider some dose-dense cocktails so as to fortify my liver...oops just kidding...
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Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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