Hi all. I saw somewhere that there had been some interesting info. about head/mouth cancers and alcohol, but couldn't find it on a search of the forums (Ok maybe I didn't search very very hard). Is there a link anyone can give me, or please advise?

Before I was diagnosed, I smoked (not very heavily) and drank (not heavily for a middle class middle aged English woman... but that still means every day more or less, with relatively frequent getting blotto-s). When I was diagnosed, I stopped smoking and drinking alcohol at once.

After the op., before radio and chemo., I was able to drink a little bit of bubbly for new year.

Since end of radio/chemo in Feb. and no longer having feeding tube since August: I now drink 'reasonably'. I might drink one small bottle of beer during the week, but not generally. At weekends, I allow myself a bottle of beer or a glass of wine (diluted with fizzy water), and OK sometimes that's 2 glasses of wine.

If I go out I am also 'reasonable'. I don't go out much lol. If I go to a restaurant, I will normally stick to my 2 glasses of wine (diluted). This weekend, family visiting and general festivities, 2 diluted glasses of wine, 1.5 glasses of bubbly, and today a small bottle of beer.

Basically what I'm asking is - is my definition of 'reasonable' actually not, given current information on alcohol and throat/mouth/head cancers, and especially for someone who was operated for it a year ago?

I don't want to stop drinking, I must admit. I like it. But I guess I would if I were persuaded it was definitely linked to my sort of cancer, even in limited quantities.

Thanks all.

Good Morning Moptop,
This is a subject which I have looked into out of personal interest because one of my joys in life is a glass of red wine in the evening.There is a wide variation in opinion ranging from "no problem at all" to "alcohol consumption is a major health risk" probably the truth lies somewhere in between.There is agreement all round that tobacco and alcohol together represents a serious risk due to the fact that alcohol increases the permeability of the lining of the mouth and allows the toxins from smoke to pass through to the layer below where tumours develop.
A couple of weeks ago I attended the launch of the Mouth Cancer Awareness Month at the houses of parliament, most of the participants were medical/dental professionals. One of the speakers condemned alcohol consumption as being one of (if not the) major cause of mouth cancer, at the time almost every one in the room had a glass of wine. I strongly suspect that the speaker's asian origin had an influence on his opinion and his depth of feeling was motivated more by religion than evidence.
I make no secret of my liking for the red fluid and I am honest about the volume when I discuss the matter with my medical advisers most of whom do not think I am exposing myself to a serious risk, but perhaps they think at 74 I am not going to be around for too much longer anyway!!
There is firm evidence that alcohol abuse is a primary cause of damage to various organs, liver in particular, we should not overlook this fact when considering what amount is safe and what is dangerous.
The "unit" system is a rough guide to maximum consumption but should not be taken too literally since what is good for one person may not necessarily be good for another.
I don't think your level of alcohol consumption should put you at risk, but I have to say that I am not a medical professional and my opinion is just that, MY opinion, not necessarily the opinion of anyone else.
Discuss the matter with your medical advisers, they are in a better position to know what is good or bad for you.
Keep Smiling
John

from PATIENT'S GUIDE > SMOKING TOBACCO RISKS

quote:

Tobacco and alcohol are the most important oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer risk factors. Mouth cancer is largely a lifestyle disease, meaning that the majority of cases are related to tobacco and alcohol use. Approximately 90% of people with mouth cancer are tobacco users. Smokers are 6 times more likely than nonsmokers to develop mouth cancer. Users of smokeless tobacco have a 50 times more likely chance of developing mouth cancer. Statistics show only 6% of head and neck cancer recurrence in patients who stop smoking in contrast to 37% of head and neck cancer patients who continue smoking developing a second cancer. People who stop using tobacco, even after many years of use, can greatly reduce their risk of all smoking related illnesses, including mouth cancer. One of the best preventive measures to take is to kick the tobacco habit.

Those who both smoke and drink, have a 15 times greater risk of developing mouth cancer than others. Alcohol drinkers are 6 times more likely than nondrinkers to develop mouth cancer. Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages, if you drink at all.

The best way to avoid these cancers is to never start smoking or chewing tobacco in any form.

in other words, if you must drink be sensible

Hi,
Its not always smoking and drinking that is the reason behind a cancer.Reasearcher have found that a rise in mouth cancer may be due to the sexually transmitted infection that also causes cervical cancer.

Would mouthwash that contains alcohol also raise one's risk of mouth cancer? I know many mouth washes contain alcohol in them to kill germs. While you do spit out the mouthwash, it does come into contact with your mouth and perhaps your throat.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sherrod,

If there is any risk (the evidence is not compelling), it is very, very small. Now that they make mouthwashes without alcohol, it would seem prudent to avoid a mouthwash with alcohol if possible.