Alcohol increases breast cancer risk by 10% and 40%

[StephN]

I am in with those who say a bit of alcohol in moderation adds to their quality of life. Can recall some gals here posting on another "alcohol thread" that they needed a glass or two of wine to help them sleep after their diagnosis.

During treatment my med onc was all for a glass of wine with dinner. He also recommended the folic acid, which I no longer use as a supplement by itself, but get in other ways. Again the taste buds were badly affected as well as stomach acid from the chemos. Managed to enjoy lighter wines such as Beaujolais and low alcohol German wines or from the Loire Valley.

This quote from the article in Vic's link was something I noticed in some other research:

Indeed, wine, beer and spirits can cause both the increase in breast cancer risk and the reduction in heart disease risk. In lab studies alcohol increases the amount of the female hormone estrogen, which could account for its effects on both heart disease and breast cancer.

Being estogen neg, my question was answered.

[Patb]

Here's to folic acid with a little wine. I agree everything in moderation.
Chicken, beef, etc is full of hormones so I really watch that and I
found a new wine called New Age that is lower in alcohol but very
good on ice with lime. In fact I plan to have one tonight. Cheers!
patb

[hutchibk]

Oh yeah, Sheila - thanks for reminding me, I also usually have a mojito at least once a month, too. Suddenly Half Beer Brenda is sounding more like Have another one Brenda... LOL

[Mary Jo]

Hahahahahahahahaha Brenda (or should I say "have one more Brenda) - that made me laugh.

Mary Jo

[dberg]

I spent the better part of my 20s, 30s and 40s taking really good care of myself. I ran marathons, watched what I ate, didn't smoke, breast fed my three kids, etc. It was a lifestyle that was easy for me to maintain and I smugly thought I was set for life. At 45 I was dx with very aggressive bc that had all sorts of nasty proliferative markers. Ironically I was training for a half marathon at the time, weighed 110 llbs, and was strong as an ox. Go figure.

I'm 3 years out now and have to admit that I drink more now than I did before my dx. And I have absolutely no intention of giving up wine or our annual trips to Napa/Sonoma. I'm not stupid though. I'm going to add folic acid to my grocery list. Right underneath the margarita salt.

[janet/FL]

If you are serious about taking large amounts of folic acid, you might consider that there may also be negative side effects. I had just gotten a prescription for 1 mg of folic acid when I read a study that said it could increase the risk of some kinds of cancer. As usual, darned if you do and darned if don't.

A Web MD. study on folic acid and colon cancer says--
"The take-home message from our study is people should be cautious about taking supplements to prevent diseases such as cancer because those treatments might be ineffective and could be harmful," he says."

The next report recommends 600mcgs a day if you drink.

Maybe I will just cut the 1 mg in half. :-)
Janet/FL

http://www.webmd.com/colorectal-canc...-cancer?page=2

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritio...l.html#sidebar

[Kathy S in Tokyo]

I've stopped worrying about the risk of getting breast cancer now that I have it and am enjoying life :-). I drink about 12 glasses of wine a year, so this is rather moderate, in my opinion. I asked my onc. about it before and he joked that my chemo was in an alcohol suspension, so that if I couldn't handle my wine, I might need help getting home from chemo if I got too drunk on my IV.

[Sheila]

Kathy
I'm with you....I figues all the poison that gets infused into me, a little alcohol certainly can't hurt...I just never drink any on chemo days and for about 4 days before and after...good thing I'm on the every 2 weeks plan!