Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

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Rikimaroo
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Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby Rikimaroo » Tue Jun 12, 2018 7:17 pm

I am not a normal drinker. An occasional drinker, yes. I was jonesing for some margarita mix that I have on my bar. I just had some in a shot glass but drank it slow. With liver surgery I get scared drinking any alcohol. What are your thoughts on the occasional drink to peel the edge off a little.
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

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betsydoglover
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Facebook Username: Betsy Lindh Williams
Location: Maryland - outside DC

Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby betsydoglover » Tue Jun 12, 2018 7:31 pm

I had the off and on occasional drink (or 2 every once in a while) - no problem. My onc said it, as with most things, was fine in moderation. Still here 13 years later, so I am pretty sure a bit is ok.
Betsy
diag. Stage IV, 5/05, liver met
lap sigmoid colectomy, 6/05
6 cycles Xeloda/oxaliplatin/Avastin (NED after 2)
11/08 9x13mm right lower lobe lung nodule; removed via VATS 4/09
NED
6 cycles Xeloda + Avastin
Avastin only 10/09-5/11
Still NED 06/18

mhf1986
Posts: 158
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Location: near DC

Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby mhf1986 » Tue Jun 12, 2018 8:06 pm

DH asked this question today: dr. said it would probably increase quality of life! So they discussed martinis and wine for awhile. As long as DH's liver function is OK, dr. said he could have something on occasion. Bilirubin is down to 2 from 6.4 a month ago and other numbers are improving so a martini once a week or so is fine.

A friend of mine has really bad cirrhosis from hepatitis and they've told him no alcohol at all, that one drink could really really hurt him. Asking might be best!

M
Caregiver to DH, dx @ 50, mets to liver/lungs, MSS, wild
9/16 CEA 114, blockage, left hemi, perm. colostomy
11/16 port in, FOLFOX + Avastin
6/17 CEA 15, 5FU + A only due to neuropathy
11/17 CEA 38, CAPOX + A
1/18 CAPOX = hi bilirubin/bad hfs, back to FOLFOX + A
5/18 growth; Vectibex + 75% Irinotecan
7/18 CEA 23, shrinkage
10/18 CEA 28, growth of 2 liver tumors/shrinkage of few and lung nodes
11/18 Lonsurf, looking at spheres, proton, trials
11/19/18 Peace

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CRguy
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Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby CRguy » Tue Jun 12, 2018 9:44 pm

another idea might be
Mocktails ... drinks we love and crave without the alcohol content
Margarita could be one / Pina Colada, Virgin Caesar etc etc.

disclaimer :
I am more of a wine buff and ...sadly ... having made wine and collected wines for years ......
I cannot tolerate the dealcoholized wines on the market.

Some low alcohol beers are OK ..... BUTT again near beers are usually gross IMO
SO when I was jonesing on a bevvy ... :shock:
I would go to the mixed drinks with enough OTHER stuff in them so as to NOT miss the ethanol kick
OR some white wines are naturally lower in alcohol than reds, wine coolers .... ?

just me :mrgreen:

BTW my big RED wine Go To standards .... tasted like shit when I was on chemo
like "India Ink " I believe I described them :twisted:
so I just moved on :(

Yeah ASK the docs is probably a good start and Mocktails would be a safe follow up !

Dare I say :shock:
CHEERS !
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

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LeonW
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Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby LeonW » Thu Jun 14, 2018 4:42 pm

I didn't until well after the liver job - mostly

Expecting that chemo would be challenging for the liver, I decided to leave it doing its things without alcohol throughout chemo. We did however celebrate completion of each (3 week) Xelox-Avastin cycle with a fancy/restaurant dinner that included a (sinle) glass of champagne. The real stuff. Heck, one needs to celebrate successes.

Once liver had regrown, we figured that it was 75% brand new and thus quite capable to handle an occasional drink. That was 2 mos after resection. From there, slowly reverted to the earlier pattern (2-3 drinks, 3-4 days a week). I still do.

All went well. Was officially promoted to 5+ year monitoring program upon the last 6-mo check-up earlier this week (June 12) :D :D

greetings, L
Dec 2012 - CC 2 unresect liver mets, CEA 41.8 (MM 65yrs)
Jan 2013 - colectomy @ spleen 2/26 nodes IVa T3N1bM1a
Feb-Jul - 1x Xelox-7x Xelox/Avastin, shrinkage from #3
Aug - 2x PV embolization (both failed)
Sep 2013 - R liver resect, 25d hosp (liver failure/delirium, lung emboli, encephalopathy), no living cancer (pCR)
2014/15 - recovery, scopy: 2 polyps
2016 - new town/life
2018, scopy: 2 polyps
2018/20 low (1.0-1.4) CEAs/clean CTs: 4x2014, 6x2015-17, 3x2018-20
next June 2021!

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LPL
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Location: Europe

Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby LPL » Thu Jun 14, 2018 5:22 pm

Rikimaroo,
We live in France. My husband’s doctors said ”no restrictions regarding what to eat or drink” when he asked. Hubby drank vine with dinner and maybe 1 day a week he took a ’little something’ to the coffee.

mhf1986 wrote:
Bilirubin is down to 2 from 6.4 a month ago and other numbers are improving

So Good to hear this news! :-)
DH @ 65 DX 4/11/16 CC recto-sigmoid junction
Adenocarcenoma 35x15x9mm G3(biopsi) G1(surgical)
Mets 3 Liver resectable
T4aN1bM1a IVa 2/9 LN
MSS, KRAS-mut G13D
CEA & CA19-9: 5/18 2.5 78 8/17 1.4 48 2/14/17 1.8 29
4 Folfox 6/15-7/30 (b4 liver surgery) 8 after
CT: 8/8 no change 3/27/17 NED->Jan-19 mets to lung NED again Oct-19 :)
:!: Steroid induced hyperglycemia dx after 3chemo
Surgeries 2016: 3/18 Emergency colostomy
5/23 Primary+gallbl+stoma reversal+port 9/1 Liver mets
RFA 2019: Feb & Oct lung mets

boxhill
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Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby boxhill » Thu Jun 14, 2018 8:22 pm

I decided to be on the wagon for the duration. I'm helped by the fact that my usual favorite, red wine, tastes horrible on chemo. It's gin and tonic season, but who wants a G&T w/o ice? I love bourbon, but haven't had any in the house.

I find it easier to abstain completely. Every once in a while I'll have a sip of someone's wine just to check, and yup, still tastes dreadful. Oh well. Back to herb teas and lukewarm water.

BTW, has anyone else encountered major problems getting a simple glass of WARM water in a restaurant? I've been out a few times shortly after infusion, and I have to explain at length that yes, I really do just want some lukewarm water from the tap. One place insisted on running it through the coffee maker, so it was boiling hot and tasted like coffee. Yuck! A friend I was with just took it over to the sink, dumped it, and filled my glass from the tap. Oy vey.

My surgeon did say that a glass of wine now and then was okay, but why bother? (He;s a liver guy. :) ) Since I had a tiny liver met, I decided I might as well give my liver a break, and I was drinking too much before anyway. Good time to break the habit.
F, 64 at DX CRC Stage IV
3/17/18 blockage, r hemi
11 of 25 LN,5 mesentery nodes
5mm liver met
pT3 pN2b pM1
BRAF wild, KRAS G12D
dMMR, MSI-H
5/18 FOLFOX
7/18 and 11/18 CT NED
12/18 MRI 5mm liver mass, 2 LNs in porta hepatis
12/31/18 Keytruda
6/19 Multiphasic CT LNs normal, Liver stable
6/28/19 Pause Key, predisone for joint pain
7/31/19 Restart Key
9/19 CT stable
Pain: all fails but Celebrex
12/23/19 CT stable
5/20 MRI stable/NED
6/20 Stop Key
All MRIs NED

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby heiders33 » Thu Jun 14, 2018 8:26 pm

Oh my goodness yes, I had so much trouble getting lukewarm water when I would go out. It made me want to go to Europe where they don’t put ice in everything. One time I was on a flight and they announced that there would be no hot drinks. Oy.

I mostly abstained during treatment, although I would have a glass of wine or beer here and there during my good weeks.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

jep
Posts: 260
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2017 7:45 pm
Location: New England, USA

Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby jep » Thu Jun 14, 2018 9:30 pm

So my husband LOVES beer, but couldn't drink anything carbonated until his fistula was completely healed. Well, that took more than 9 months, but his liver numbers have actually improved since he started drinking wine (and eventually beer) again. He's very happy about this...
Jep
Stage IV CC 5/16/17
Loc: recto-sig
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Size: 7.4 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N2M1
LNs: 8/20
BL CEA: .9
LVI: present
Perineural invasion: present
LAR margins: clear (w/in microns)
Folfox (8/17-1/18)
Scope 6/18 - CLEAR! - 2 polyps
PET 10/17/18: 3 pos LNs
Irino + Vecti (11/18)
CEA: 1.7 (2/19)
Xel + rad (5/19)
Surgery: 8/21/19 (aborted)
P1 Trial 10/19 - 12/19
Bypass 12/6/19
Folfox + vecti 1/2/19 - 4/3/20
Kid Fail 5/1/20
Folfiri + Avastin 5/20 - 6/20
bypass 6/29/20
Stivarga 7/18/20 -
Home 9/10/20

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby Basil » Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:35 pm

I drink too much and drank too much during chemo. It’s not a good thing but my liver and blood were always good. Year out and cancer free with normal liver function. This is not a suggestion, of course, but don’t get bent about having a couple of cocktails.
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

StDrogo
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2017 7:54 pm

Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby StDrogo » Sat Jun 16, 2018 1:14 am

Well, I did—and in herculean quantities—but I wasn't the one technically on chemo. My wife usually had a glass every night with dinner; whether it's good for you or not, teetotalism just doesn't seem human. She fasted, however, for five days out of every two weeks, during which time she would only drink water
Wife Age 33
02/17 dx Ovarian mass, ascites, pleural effusions
03/17 Resection of 16 x 20 cm ovarian mass; CEA = 10, CA125 = 180, CA19-9 = 36
04/17 Emergency surgery, diastatic perforation, purulent peritonitis, extended right hemicolectomy, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in splenic flexure, 1/16 lymph
11/17 CT = NED, CEA < 1
12/17 CRS (peritoneal nodules of foreign body giant cell reaction, no evidence of malignancy; liver resection—1 cm FBGCR and .5 cm focal nodular hyperplasia), HIPEC

thubler
Posts: 59
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2016 9:22 am

Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby thubler » Tue Jun 26, 2018 7:29 pm

Im a drinker, but not professionally anymore! I did not drink during chemo until towards the end, probably last two months or so and that was during off weeks and only a few times 3 or 4 at most. I would only drink two beers or glasses of wine. I think anything in moderation is fine but I probably would limit it to your off weeks. Good luck!
III b CC @ 35 yoa.
two primary tumors on ascending/transverse stage 1 and stage 3.
Lynch Positive
Resection 05/16
2/41 nodes +
FOLFOX 6/16-11/20/16
Clear Endoscopy and Colonoscopy 12/6/16, 02/13/18,01/24/19,02/27/20,02/18/21,05/24/22
CT 02/07/17 enlarged mesenteric node.
Clear PET 02/15/17
Stable CT 06/05/17,10/16/17,04/02/18, 01/08/19, 01/14/20, 01/05/21,03/07/22
Deported 11/03/17

Stewsbetty
Posts: 170
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2016 7:08 am

Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby Stewsbetty » Wed Jun 27, 2018 6:54 am

boxhill wrote:
BTW, has anyone else encountered major problems getting a simple glass of WARM water in a restaurant? I've been out a few times shortly after infusion, and I have to explain at length that yes, I really do just want some lukewarm water from the tap. One place insisted on running it through the coffee maker, so it was boiling hot and tasted like coffee. Yuck! A friend I was with just took it over to the sink, dumped it, and filled my glass from the tap. Oy vey.


Too funny! I find when you ask for warm water you either get cool water (water from tap with no ice) or hot water (straight out of the kettle and then sit for 30 secs). So I usually ask for hot water and then try to add some ice from my family’s water glasses. :)
And I have been off oxy for well over a year and I still prefer my water warm these days. I just got used to it and now it is my default.

Beth
42yo At diagnosis. Female in BC, Canada
Dx: CC ascending
Right Hemi colectomy 06/16 clear margins
Adenocarcinoma 6cm High Grade
pT3 pN2a Stage 3
10 out of 16 lymph involved
MSI-h, Kras mut, Braf wild
Finished chemo Feb. 2017
PET scan showing active area April 2017
July 2017 CT showing LN mass and spread to other LN
Stage 4
Aug 2017 failed Fofiri
Sept 2017 keytruda scans every 3 months showing shrinkage and stability
November 2018 CT shows only 1 small tumour left
September 2019 clear CT finally NED!!!

Capri
Posts: 80
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2018 5:59 pm

Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby Capri » Thu Jun 28, 2018 1:00 pm

My son is not a drinker; maybe a rare beer on occasion. Due to elevated liver enzymes on oxiliplatin, he definitely is not drinking any alcohol.
Mom to son 46 yo at Dx (2017)
1/18 Robotic resection, sigmoid adenocarcinoma, Stg. IIIA T3 N1 MX, mod. differentiated, margins clear
2/18 - 7/30/18 Port placed; completed 12 cycles of FOLFOX
6/18 Put on Early surveillance CT,PET scan-normal. Neuropathy has started.
11/18 Clean colonoscopy; 11/20 CT normal.
2019 to 7/22 colonoscopies, CTs neck to groin have been normal.

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GrouseMan
Posts: 888
Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 12:30 pm
Location: SE Michigan USA

Re: Does anyone have a little drinky drink during chemo?

Postby GrouseMan » Fri Jun 29, 2018 4:24 pm

Our departed friend Voxx66 was a bar tender I believe, and used to have a few (maybe too many), and I believe another of our members was a pretty regular wine drinker though not to excess. My wife went from having a beer regularly to only an occasional glass of wine or sometimes Margarita or Bloody Mary. As others have said - don't deny yourself the little pleasures just do it in moderation. It might actually make it that much more enjoyable.

Regards,

GrouseMan
DW 53 dx Jun 2013
CT mets Liver Spleen lung. IVb CEA~110
Jul 2013 Sig Resct
8/13 FolFox,Avastin 12Tx mild sfx, Ongoing 5-FU Avastin every 3 wks.
CEA: good marker
7/7/14 CT Can't see the spleen Mets.
8/16/15 CEA Up, CT new abdominal mets. Iri, 5-FU, Avastin every 2 wks.
1/16 Iri, Erbitux and likely Avastin (Trial) CEA going >.
1/17 CEA up again dropped from Trial, Mets growth 4-6 mm in abdomen
5/2/17 Failed second trial, Hospitalized 15 days 5/11. Home Hospice 5/26, at peace 6/4/2017


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