topic Re: Tamoxifen and drinks in Wellness

Tamoxifen and drinks

bargainsgirl — Sat, 26 Nov 2016 22:53:58 GMT

I had a lumpectomy and radiation 1 year ago and have been taking Tamoxifen 20mg since April. No problems except for a MINOR increase in hot flashes. All of my medical team said it is perfectly ok to have a few glasses of wine or a drink a few times a week. After reading so much about the evils of alcohol and breast cancer, I feel guilty if I do have a glass. Anyone else struggle with this problem? Sometimes I feel like the stress and guilt is worse than the wine!

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

chessylady — Sat, 26 Nov 2016 23:06:36 GMT

If you are able to limit your wine and your doctors say it is OK, then there is no need to feel guilty. Those of us who are alcoholics cannot drink moderately and must abstain from alcohol.

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

wagirl — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 15:57:09 GMT

Oh my gosh, honeybuns--after all you have gone thru, there is no need to guilt yourself about a few glasses of wine, especially when you have heard your docs opinions. I went thru a cancer dx in 2012 and I know how feeling guilty and stressed out about every little thing feels like. I am taking tamox too. I am not a wine drinker but I do like beer and have a couple every few months at a social gathering. I think the issue is that alcohol turns into sugar and cancer loves sugar. And can I add that all those feelings are so normal after what we have gone thru. We are the center of attention for many months then when treatment is over, it feels like we are on our own and the things we do feel like the wrong ones.Normal, normal. normal !! Check out the cancer board on this forum. Lots of fabulous people there who will help out with whatever ails you.

P.S. Try to stay away from the stuff on the internet. Lots of good there but a lot of bad there too.

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

sidsmom — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 17:09:00 GMT

Oh my.

Why would anyone who had part of their diseased breast removed...and took painful radiation...and take oral drugs tempt fate?

My sweet sissy died of non-smoking lung cancer 14yrs ago.

Whenever she had a treatment or surgery, she would say,

'Yeah, it might look like we fix it, but we just pi--ed the cancer off.

It'll come back when least expected.'

She never changed anything w/ her diet or social drinking.

With the knowledge we have today, whywhywhywhywhy

would someone continue to drink, even on a very limited basis?

This is from nutritionfacts.org, Dr. Michael Greger.

It's a transcript from a video in the website.

There are also sources cited, if needed.

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

MarieIG — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 03:55:17 GMT

@sidsmom Thank you for the post. I had no idea . . .

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

wagirl — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 15:29:11 GMT

First off , the font on this article is way to small to read and #2, I don't think reprimanding OP is the right thing to be doing. I can't tell you how many of these articles by all sorts of supposed experts, I've read and trying to tell who knows what end is up, is mind boggling. EVERYTHING causes cancer these days and EVERYONE has cancer cells in their bodies--just don't know why or how some folks are affected more than others. When you have cancer, you try to go with the people and treatments that are shown to work somewhat,.I am sorry for your sister but you need to be just a little more sympathetic about what you say. The few years after dx are the most worrisome, confusing, scary time in a cancer patient life. And everything you try to do to help lessen recurrence is always wrong to some "expert". Try not to judge.

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

cantdrive55 — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 00:31:23 GMT

Well said, @wagirl!

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

bargainsgirl — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 02:38:49 GMT

Thank you! I didn't need to be lectured! Font way too small but I went on the doctors site and he is rather extreme in ALL of his medical views so I dismissed his opinions. I think I will listen to my team of doctors

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

Shanus — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 03:20:15 GMT

@bargainsgirl You've been through a really tough time, Lady. I wish you good health in the coming years. Glad you are doing well. Thanks for sharing.

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

sidsmom — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 14:01:36 GMT

@bargainsgirl wrote:
After reading so much about the evils of alcohol and breast cancer, I feel guilty if I do have a glass.

Anyone else struggle with this problem?

@bargainsgirl

I was not 'lecturing' or 'judging.'

You asked a question, I answered...and I gave a reason why.

No, I don't & never will struggle with this problem.

I have a high regard to my body, health & life.

If I came -this- close to cancer, I would do anything I could to prevent it from returning. Big changes require Big changes.

It stuns me to see people think it's OK to

'go w/ the people & treatments that are shown to work somewhat...'.

'Somewhat'??! My life is way more important than 'somewhat'. My sister thought her life was 'somewhat'...that's not going to happen with me.

The website I quoted has many different medical sources for references.

Dr. Greger promotes a low fat, while foods, plant based diet.

This is a non-profit website, unlike the 'team of doctors' mentioned.

The world is filled with enablers...'just a little bit', 'everything in moderation', 'start tomorrow'. In fact, just within this short thread, I was the only one offering positive, this can help & not harm you, information.

It hurts to hear the truth...but every time I post opposing nutritional/medical viewpoints, it comes from a place of 'Yes.'

Yes, I want everyone to be healthy.

Yes, I want people to wake up & improve their life.

And Yes, sometimes I feel like I care more for particular posters than they do themselves. I don't know anyone here, but care enough to take the time to share something that will help, not harm. I care too much. Guilty as Charged.

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

wagirl — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 15:57:54 GMT

sidsmom

-while you may think you are offering up useful info, maybe it's how you present it. I said the "somewhat" word because everyone who has cancer is totally different from everybody else. What works well for one may not at all for another. I am one of the very fortunate cancer patients whose very intense treatments did well for me. And let's remember that treatments and knowledge is so much more than it was when your sister went thru it. I also thought I would never have to deal with cancer--but I did .... no one is immune. We all have to deal with whatever we are dealt in our way. I'm just suggesting that you choose your words wisely when you offer up any advice. And even tho you make drastic changes to never get it again---well sometimes that doesn't work. And I thank God every day for my "team" of doctors. Another example of how your words sound like we who have gone with that choice, are in the in the wrong. No one has asked you to care for them and their ways of doing things. Again, you presume too much. It's not what info you post, just your comments that are harsh. Yes it does hurt to hear the truth and yes there are many enablers out there, but your truth and mine are different and I have yet to read about anything that is 100% guaranteed to help someone NEVER get cancer again.

I hope you NEVER have to go thru cancer. And I am again, very sorry for your sister. Caring is great, but being dismissive and condescending are not.

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

bargainsgirl — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 00:20:31 GMT

Thank you for your kind words. You are so right. NO ONE is immune! I am a very healthy person, not over weight, eat well, exercise, don't smoke and still I got stage 1 BC. My treatments were well tolerated and I have a superb team of doctors who I will be working with for the next 5 years. I just keep hoping to remain "clean". We do the best we can!

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

Shanus — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 00:43:54 GMT

@bargainsgirl. We're all pulling for you. The best is all you can do. Sounds like you have great doctors and I'm sure friends and family to support you all the way to that 5 year goal. ❤️

Re: Tamoxifen and drinks

bargainsgirl — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 01:50:37 GMT

Thank you!