There are closely related concepts - alcohol and cancer, because people suffering from alcoholism are more likely to suffer from oncological diseases of certain organs. It is important to note that not everyone who abuses alcohol will develop cancer. Similarly, and vice versa, a complete rejection of alcohol does not guarantee the development of oncology.
With regular alcohol abuse and poor nutrition, the risk of developing cancer increases by 40-80%.
Years of research have identified several mechanisms:
- Alcohol, entering the body, decomposes under the participation of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogese to acetaldehyde. This substance has toxic and carcinogenic properties. This organic compound damages the DNA of cells, primarily in those organs where oxidation occurs, and leads to protein mutation in cells. They begin to grow faster, their structure changes and function is disturbed.
- When drinking alcohol, the normal intake of vitamins of groups A, B, C, important microelements stops. Since the cells do not have enough nutrients, they quickly stop working correctly and change under the influence of other factors.
- The process of alcohol oxidation damages the DNA of cells, as well as the molecules of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
- Drinking beer increases the amount of the sex hormone estrogen in the body. Its excess can lead to the development of breast cancer.
- Drinking people have low levels of folic acid in the body, because of this, cells cannot create new DNA with the correct chromosome set.
Of all the above mechanisms, we can summarize: cancer, and alcohol have a direct relationship. The use of alcoholic beverages harms the body at the cellular level, namely, changes begin in the cells during cancer. Mutated, they randomly divide and grow into huge tumors.
Target organs for the development of oncology with alcohol intake
According to statistics, certain types of malignant tumors develop more often in people who abuse alcohol.
These include:
- Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), as a rule, this form passes from cirrhosis. According to WHO statistics, more than 700,000 people die of liver cancer every year.
- Malignant tumor of the mouth, throat, larynx. More often this type appears in women.
- Cancer of the esophagus and stomach. According to statistics, more than 600,000 people die every year around the world. This form affects people who have little alcohol dehydrogenase (an enzyme that breaks down alcohols).
Cancer in the mouth - Oncology of the small and large intestine. Mortality is 7-8% of all forms of cancer.
- Tumors of the pancreas. About 200,000 people die every year around the world.
- Mammary cancer. In the development of this species, vodka is not as terrible as beer. Regular consumption of a foamy drink increases the risk of getting sick by 2 times.
The amount of alcohol without the risk of getting sick
Alcohol can be drunk without harm to the body, but its amount should not exceed the established norm. In studies, scientists have found that women can drink one low-calorie drink per day, and men - two weak or one strong. One serving should contain no more than 12 grams of alcohol.
What is meant by these terms:
- one glass of vodka;
- beer - 0.33l;
- a glass of red wine.
It is important to understand that these doses are relative. Each person has their own reaction to alcohol intake and harm can be different. When a malignant tumor is detected, it cannot be taken categorically, in any form. Alcohol and cancer are not compatible.
Can you drink alcohol with cancer?
The answer to this question is unequivocal - absolutely not. Alcohol is especially dangerous for patients with oncology during treatment with chemotherapy and other drugs. Of course, you should not look for an answer to such a question on the Internet, the most reasonable solution is to ask a doctor.
However, according to numerous studies, alcohol consumption increases the risk of death by at least 3 times. The result is about 20 thousand deaths annually. It is especially dangerous to drink alcohol for patients with cancer of the throat, larynx, pharynx, esophagus and upper respiratory tract.
Myths about cancer treatment with alcohol
In today's high-tech world, when everyone has access to the Internet, many decide to cure cancer on their own without the help of qualified doctors. There is a wealth of information on this subject.
Myth 1 - Shevchenko Method
Essence: a suspension of sunflower oil and vodka is diluted. A cancer patient should drink this cocktail and completely refuse treatment in an oncology dispensary. According to the author of the technique, the patient only loses time for this.
Myth 2 - Drink a glass of red wine every day and cancer will never develop.
Proven fact. Studies have been conducted: people who drink wine also get cancer, just like non-users.
It is definitely impossible to cure oncology with traditional medicine. Being engaged in self-treatment, patients lose precious time, and doctors are helpless as a result.
To drink alcohol or not is the choice of every sane person. Drinking alcohol in moderation can even be beneficial. But dependence on them threatens not only physical and moral degradation, but also the development of various diseases, including cancer.
With a difficult environmental situation in the world, smoking and alcoholism, every day more and more people get sick with cancer. Alcohol and cancer are closely related concepts. For some, this is a combination of words, while for others it is a sentence.
In addition, there is conflicting information about the relationship between alcohol intake and bladder cancer, lung cancer and stomach cancer.
The most embarrassing and unexpected statement in the report was that even moderate and small doses of alcohol cause and/or contribute to the development of cancer. In a meta-analysis of 222 studies that included 92,000 moderate alcohol drinkers with cancer and 60,000 no-alcohol drinkers with cancer, moderate alcohol consumption was shown to increase the risk of oropharyngeal cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, and breast cancer. This meta-analysis also estimated that in 2004 moderate alcohol consumption was responsible for 5,000 oropharyngeal cancer deaths, 24,000 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma deaths, and 5,000 breast cancer deaths globally in 2004. It should also be noted that moderate alcohol consumption was not associated with colon and rectal cancer, liver cancer, and laryngeal cancer in this meta-analysis.
However, despite the high quality of this meta-analysis, it still has one weakness: “moderate” or “excessive” alcohol consumption of the respondents was assessed by the respondents themselves, and although they were given clear criteria for difference, they still may have underestimated or knowingly underestimate this figure. The tendency of participants in such studies to unconsciously or consciously underestimate their degree of adherence to alcohol is a scientifically proven fact. This can lead to misconceptions about the association of low doses of alcohol with the development of cancer, when in fact this type of cancer is provoked by much higher doses.
Where does the increased risk come from?
The biological mechanisms that mediate the association of cancer with alcohol are not fully understood. Alcoholic beverages typically contain at least 15 carcinogenic compounds, including acetaldehyde, acrylamide, aflatoxins, arsenic, benzene, cadmium, ethanol, ethyl carbamate, formaldehyde, and lead. Ethanol is the most important carcinogen in alcoholic beverages, and its rate of metabolism is determined by genetic mechanisms.
The first and most toxic product of alcohol metabolism is acetaldehyde. Ethanol that enters the body is oxidized by the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase, cytochrome P4502E1, and catalase to form acetaldehyde. This metabolite is carcinogenic and genotoxic when in contact with the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract (pharynx, oral cavity, esophagus, larynx), where high concentrations of acetaldehyde cause mucosal hyperproliferation.
There are also indirect mechanisms by which alcohol contributes to malignant tumors. For example, alcohol is a folic acid antagonist, and by disrupting the absorption and metabolism of folic acid, it impairs DNA methylation. In breast cancer, alcohol can increase estrogen levels and the activity of insulin-like growth factor receptors, which in turn stimulate cancer cell proliferation. There are also other mechanisms that are mediated by the production of reactive oxygen species (oxygen ions, free radicals and peroxides) and reactive nitrogen species (peroxynitrite, etc.), as well as the role of alcohol as a solvent for tobacco carcinogens.
The bitter truth about strong alcoholic beverages
Type of alcohol: wine, beer, spirits - usually does not affect the risk of developing cancer, but esophageal cancer is an exception. The esophagus is lined with very small cilia that are easily destroyed by high concentrations of ethanol, such as those found in strong alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol and smoking
Combining smoking and drinking is considered by many people to be an enjoyable and acceptable activity. Smoking has long been known to be a risk factor for cancer. However, a significant increase in the carcinogenic effect of tobacco smoking with alcohol was found in relation to the risk of developing cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus; the highest risks were observed in heavy smokers and alcoholics. There was also a dose-dependent effect, especially noticeable in terms of the level of proliferation of the mucosa of the esophagus. Abstaining from cigarettes and alcohol can prevent up to 80% of oral cancers and up to 90% of laryngeal cancers.
But doesn't alcohol have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system?
Alcohol is a double-edged sword. Two decades ago, studies of the "French paradox" began to appear in the medical literature. It turned out that the doses of alcohol from minimal to moderate have a cardioprotective effect. Some observational studies have shown that the French, who had the highest levels of alcohol (particularly wine) consumption, had the lowest rates of cardiovascular disease.
To people far from medicine, this study could seem like a kind of “indulgence” for drunkenness, although other studies clearly indicated that the reduction in the risk of developing diabetes, stroke, heart failure, and overall mortality does not pay off the enormous harm that causes the body human chronic alcohol abuse. In particular, alcohol abuse provokes hypertension, atrial fibrillation, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.
The evidence for the harmful effects of alcohol is much stronger than the evidence for its beneficial effects. In addition, the benefit-risk ratio of alcohol use changes dramatically in favor of the risk in young people, since they are the ones most likely to suffer the negative consequences of acute alcohol intoxication (accidents, violence, and social problems). As a result, in the age category of men from 15 to 59 years, alcohol abuse is the leading risk factor for premature death.
Risk factor correction
Alcohol use is regarded as a modifiable risk factor for cancer. Physicians are encouraged to discuss this risk factor with patients and encourage them to reduce their exposure. How important is moderate alcohol consumption compared to all other risk factors for cancer? Is it worth the time and effort trying to convince patients to reduce their alcohol consumption, or is the game not worth the candle? Dr. Rehm explains: "We still don't know what causes 60% of cancers, but people can reliably reduce their risk of cancer by reducing alcohol consumption."
Dr. Pekka Puska, former director general of the Finnish National Institute of Health and Welfare and co-author of the WCR report, responded to this question: “Physicians should be aware of the risks of alcohol consumption and inform their patients about it, if necessary. However, for most patients, especially the elderly, moderate alcohol consumption does not significantly increase the risk, and therefore should not be pressured into avoiding alcohol completely. But with patients who have diseases directly aggravated by alcohol, doctors must be very firm, and strongly recommend to them specific suggestions and ways to completely abandon alcohol.”
People often want to know how much they can drink without much harm to the body, what dose of alcohol is not dangerous. "There is no absolutely safe dose of alcohol consumption", says Dr. Rem. "Drinking any dose of alcohol inevitably carries some risk, and this risk increases with the dose of alcohol."
Ministry of Health warns: alcohol is dangerous for your health
Alcohol is not an ordinary consumer product. The sale of alcohol requires clear regulation by public policy, special taxation, and the creation of a service sector to combat the damage it causes. This leads to the fact that the interests of public health and the interests of the alcohol industry are sharply different. The authors of the WCR report propose some forms of alcohol policy aimed at public health interests.
Dr. Puska says: "The prevalence of alcohol abuse is closely related to the general level of alcohol consumption in the population." Therefore, he believes that restrictions should apply not only to risk groups for alcoholism, but also to all other alcohol consumers.
Dr. Rehm insists that bottles of alcohol carry warning labels to remind them of the cancer risk associated with drinking any alcohol. Some countries have already introduced such warning labels, but they usually contain information only about the dangers of alcohol for pregnant women. Warning labels should explain the risks associated with alcohol consumption in a language that the average person can understand.
Reducing the availability of alcohol through pricing and taxation can reduce the amount of alcohol consumed, and thus alcohol-related health and social harms, including the risk of cancer and premature death.
Dr. Puska explains: “The risks associated with alcohol are not limited to cancer. Alcohol is linked to many other health problems. However, such a strong emphasis on the carcinogenic effect of alcohol, the creation of a separate report devoted to it, is due to the fact that such a clear relationship between alcohol consumption and the development of cancer is news to most people. We want to draw attention to this side of the problem and fill the existing knowledge gap. Of course, when we talk about alcohol-related problems with a particular patient, we will discuss not only the risks of malignant tumors, but the whole panorama of problems in general.
ANTI-CANCER PLATE
The famous doctor managed to put in his book almost the entire world experience
prevention of a dangerous disease. We have compiled the rules of nutrition and life
<<по мотивам>> best-selling book by David Servan-Schreiber, renowned physician,
who managed to put in his book<<Антирак>> almost the entire world
experience in disease prevention
Just don't be afraid of the word<<рак>> in the title! With the same success
eating tips (see below) could be called anti-diabetes,
anti-heart attack, anti-stroke and anti-overweight.
But what can you do: 15 years ago, neurologist David Servan-Schreiber
accidentally discovered that he had cancer...
And I felt it in my own skin: only medical methods
treatment for the victory over the sore is not enough. Dedicated to finding
natural cancer prevention. After all, everyone has cancer cells.
But not everyone gets cancer.
For example, food! It turns out that quite traditional dishes of different nations
can save you from cancer. Because it lowers blood sugar
or fight inflammation, due to which, it turns out,<<кормится>>
tumor. Are there foods that make cancer cells...
commit suicide! (The most useful - see Anti-cancer plate).
At the same time, there is food-the enemy, which is better to refuse.
Evidence-based medicine does not study the medicinal properties of food one by one.
the only reason: food, unlike medicine, cannot be
patent.
- To the prevention of food and the right way of life, oncologists,
Of course, they can be skeptical, says Pavel, a diagnostician.
Tkachuk. - But there is world experience: for example, in Japan, women are much less
suffer from breast cancer. And in Europe and America now a whole
an epidemic of this cancer...
ANTI-CANCER PLATE
The main defenders against oncology: 1. Green tea. Brew 10 minutes
drink within an hour. 2-3 cups per day.
2. Olive oil. Better than cold pressed, 1 tablespoon per day.
3. Turmeric. Add to dishes in combination with black pepper, otherwise not
digested. A pinch a day is enough. Has similar properties
ginger.
4. Cherry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, blueberry, cranberry. Can
frozen, you can fresh, the quantity is not limited.
5. Plum, peaches, apricots (all<<косточковые>>). According to the most
recent studies help no worse than berries.
6. Vegetables of the cruciferous family: broccoli, cauliflower and other types
cabbage. It is advisable not to boil, but to bake or cook in a double boiler.
Can be raw.
7. Garlic, all kinds of onions. 1 head or half a small one is enough
bulbs. Better in combination with olive oil, you can slightly
fry.
8. Mushrooms. There is evidence for champignons and oyster mushrooms, as well as
various types of Japanese mushrooms.
9. Dark chocolate with more than 70% cocoa. Just not dairy!
10. Tomatoes. Precisely boiled, better with olive oil.
How to build your nutrition
EXCLUDED FROM THE DIET:
(These products<<питают>> cancer cells) Sugar (white and brown).
Bread. Especially white rolls, all pastries from the store, white rice, strongly
boiled pasta. Potatoes and especially mashed potatoes.
Corn and other types of CRISPY flakes. Jams, syrups, jams.
Soda, industrial juices. Alcohol outside meals, especially
strong. Margarine and hydrogenated fats. (We love them
add to butter) Industrial dairy products (from cows,
who ate corn and soy). French fries, chips, pizza,
hot dogs and other fast food. Red meat, poultry skin, eggs (If chickens,
pigs and cows were raised on corn and soy, injected with hormones and
antibiotics). The peel of store-bought vegetables and fruits (in it
pesticides accumulate). Tap water. water from plastic
bottles heated in the sun.
LOOK ON: Coconut sugar, acacia honey. The author also mentions
agave syrup. Products made from mixed cereals and wholemeal flour: bread
rye, dark rice and basmati, oats, barley, buckwheat, flax seeds.
Lentils, beans, the author mentions sweet potato - sweet potato. Muesli,
oatmeal. fresh berries (see<<Главные защитники от онкологии>>) Home
lemonade, tea with thyme, citrus peel. A glass of RED wine a day
while eating. olive oil, flaxseed,<<Натуральные>> dairy
products (The animal ate grass). Olives, cherry tomatoes. Vegetables.
Fish,
just not large: mackerel, mackerel, sardines, salmon.<<Экологичное>>
meat and eggs (animals were not injected with hormones). Peeled vegetables
and fruitsFiltered water, mineral water, preferably from GLASS
bottles.
HARMFUL AND USEFUL CHEMISTRY
IT IS BETTER TO REJECT THIS: 1. Deodorants and antiperspirants with
aluminum. 2. Cosmetics with parabens and phthalates: see the label
shampoos, varnishes, foams, hair dyes, nail polish,
sunscreen. Cosmetics with hormones (estrogens) and
placenta. 3. Industrial means from insects and rodents. four.
Plastic tableware with PVC, polystyrene and styrofoam (Precisely
You can't heat up food in it. 5. Teflon pans with damaged
coated. 6. Cleaners and detergents, toilet capsules with
ACRYLIC. 7. Dry cleaning of clothes and
underwear. 8. Perfume (they contain phthalates).
REPLACE WITH: 1. Natural aluminum-free deodorants. Search in pharmacies
specialized stores. 2. Natural cosmetics
free of parabens and phthalates (see specialized stores). 3. Funds
based on essential oils, boric acid. 4. Ceramic or
glassware. 5. Cookware without Teflon coating or with
undamaged coating. 6. Environmentally friendly detergents and cleaners
products, including washing powders (look for specialized
stores, popular Japanese and Korean
household items). 7. If you use dry cleaning, ventilate
linen in the air for at least an hour.
The fact that regular consumption of alcoholic beverages is harmful to the whole body is known even to schoolchildren. In fact, ethanol, which is part of any alcohol, is the strongest toxin that has a destructive effect on the work of all internal organs and causes persistent dependence on the physical and psychological level.
It is especially undesirable to drink alcohol for people who have various diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular, nervous and genitourinary systems. And what about oncology? Are cancer and alcohol compatible, because any person, even a seriously ill person, sometimes wants to relax and unwind.
Cancer tumors and alcoholic beverages are closely related things.. Indeed, it is precisely for those who are adherents of the “green serpent” that the risk of encountering such troubles is much increased. Moreover, it does not matter at all what exactly a person likes to drink - vodka, beer, champagne or wine.
It has been established that annually alcohol becomes the culprit in the development of oncological processes in 6% of all cases of pathology.
It should be noted that not all alcohol lovers will get cancer. This requires a combination of several parameters at once. To understand them, you should find out the specifics of the onset of cancer cells against the background of drinking alcohol:
- When ethanol is in the body, it, under the influence of liver enzymes, begins to actively break down. One of the side compounds is acetaldehyde, an extremely dangerous and toxic substance. This carcinogen is extremely destructive for the cellular structure, it leads to damage to the DNA helix and subsequent mutation of cell proteins. Acetaldehyde also contributes to the accelerated growth of liver cell tissue, which leads to the destruction of the organ.
- The generation of ROS (reactive oxygen species) is also involved in damage to DNA structures. These compounds are side forms of metabolic processes, which are enhanced due to the intake of ethanol.
- Alcohol-containing products significantly reduce the ability of the body to actively absorb and assimilate vital vitamins and nutrients (in particular, carotenoids, B-group vitamins, A, E, D and C).
- With the persistent abuse of alcohol (especially beer) in the body, the level of estrogen drastically ages. An excess amount of this substance becomes a common cause of malignant neoplasms.
- In constantly drinking people, the level of B-group vitamin (folic acid) in the body is noticeably lowered. This is an extremely important compound that contributes to the full division of cells and their production of high-quality DNA.
From these conclusions made by doctors, it can be summarized that alcohol and oncology have a close and strong relationship. Long-term alcohol consumption has a detrimental effect on the body already at the cellular level. But it is precisely the random cell division and their further mutations that lead to the formation of cancerous tumors.
Useful tips for preventing the development of cancer
If a person is already sick with cancer, it is strongly not recommended for a cancer patient to drink alcohol.
How to prevent oncological processes
This topic has long been discussed by leading medical experts. Doctors have established safe volumes of alcohol that do not cause significant harm to health. But these proportions are applicable only to healthy people. In oncological processes, alcohol is harmful in any concentration.
The fair sex is allowed to use only one product that contains ethanol (at a reduced content) per day. For men, this dose is increased by 2 times (that is, two servings of low alcohol content or one serving of strong alcohol). In this case, one safe dose should contain only up to 14% alcohol inclusion.
But it must be borne in mind that these recommendations are conditional, because the human body is individual, and alcohol has an unequal effect on a person. Ethanol, even at these safe doses, turns into a "silent killer" if a person has:
- hidden cellular damage;
- genetic predisposition.
These situations become a favorable occasion for the development of oncology and require you to permanently abandon the use of alcohol. Is it possible to drink alcohol with cancer if this product is the main enemy of the immune system? Immunity for cancer patients is extremely important, especially when undergoing chemotherapy sessions. If, with such a development of events, even indulge in weak alcohol, this will lead to a significant aggravation of the course of the disease and provoke tumor growth.
What type of cancer is ethanol associated with?
Oncologists, based on many years of research, made interesting conclusions. It turns out that there is some connection between ethanol and the appearance of certain types of cancer in humans. In particular:
- Oncology of the liver organ (hepatocellular carcinoma). Most often, this form of cancer is the result of cirrhosis of the liver. According to statistics, about 800,000 people die from this oncology every year.
- Cancers of the larynx, mouth and throat. It is noticed that women are most often faced with this type of oncological processes. Daily consumption of alcohol in excess of 50 g increases the risk of encountering such a disease by 3-4 times.
- Cancer of the stomach and esophagus. The main victims of such oncology are people who have a decrease in the enzymatic activity of the liver and its inability to produce a normal amount of alcohol dehydrogenase (an enzyme that breaks down and utilizes ethanol). Statistics state that 650,000 people die as a result of this disease every year.
- Oncological processes of the intestines (colorectal cancer). According to data, mortality from this type of cancer accounts for about 8–9% of all oncology.
- Malignant tumors of the pancreas. More than 200,000 people die every year in the world due to this disease.
- Oncology of the breast. It is noted that the abuse of beer is most involved in the appearance of this kind of pathology. If you regularly drink a large amount of foam, the chance of earning this type of oncology increases by 2-3 times.
Ethanol has been found to promote cancer
Dangerous myths
When the question is considered whether it is possible to drink alcohol with oncology, various frivolous beliefs sometimes pop up. They relate to self-treatment of oncological diseases. Unfortunately, many people unconditionally believe these rumors and lose precious time, which, at times, costs a person's life.
Method of Nikolai Shevchenko
The essence of the method consists of the daily use of a suspension-mixture consisting of good vodka and unrefined sunflower oil in the same proportion. According to the author, such a mess successfully helps to cope with oncology. Needless to say, trusting his fate to such unfortunate Aesculapius, the patient is only wasting time and chances for a cure.
Red wine prevents cancer
Another myth that is actively thriving, especially among fans of this type of alcohol. Indeed, natural, dry red wine has a number of useful properties. In particular:
- stimulates blood circulation;
- activates metabolic processes;
- Helps restore collagen levels.
But in order for wine to really benefit, it should be drunk no more than 3 tbsp. l. per day (about 50 g). By the way, the most recommended in terms of healing effects on the body are such wines as Merlot, Cabernet and Pinot Noir. As for any effect on oncological processes, there are no confirmed data. People who consume red wine for healing purposes are also prone to cancer, like the rest.
It is impossible to cure a person of cancer and stop the growth of cancer cells with any folk remedies, and even more so with alcohol. Belief in such "miracles" has already ruined more than one hundred lives.
Whether to get involved in alcohol with diagnosed oncology or switch to a completely sober lifestyle is a personal matter. Good and high-quality alcohol, consumed in strictly moderate doses, sometimes does bring some benefit to the body, but only to a healthy one. And with a weakened immune system, which is observed in cancer patients, even a small dose of alcohol drunk daily can provoke the development of persistent alcohol addiction and further worsen the patient's condition.
Alcohol is most dangerous for women with a predisposition to breast cancer
It must be borne in mind that ethyl alcohol itself is the culprit in the development of abnormal division, cell growth and their transformation into malignant ones. Alcohol and oncology are closely related concepts. And such a tandem in the realities of modern life, with poor ecology, poor-quality and unhealthy nutrition, smoking becomes even more dangerous.
Sobriety and only sobriety
If anyone else is wondering if it is possible to sometimes relax with alcohol when diagnosed with cancer, such people should put aside any thoughts about alcohol in the background of cancer. Alcohol becomes the most dangerous for cancer patients in the following cases:
- When taking prescribed medications.
- During the course of chemotherapy.
- When conducting radiation sessions to the patient.
Getting involved in alcohol is highly discouraged even with a common cold, and oncological processes are among the most dangerous and deadly diseases. But, even if someone still hopes for a positive answer, it is better to consult with the attending oncologist about this ban.
The specialist will tell you in detail what lifestyle should be followed, what is possible and what is not. He will advise products that will help restore a weakened body, drinks that increase the standard of living, and separately hold a conversation about the advisability of drinking alcohol.
You should always remember the sad consequences
Let's summarize
So, if a cancer patient wants to be cured and become healthy, he will have to forget about the use of alcoholic products. Otherwise, alcohol will minimize the entire therapeutic effect of the procedures and will only worsen the condition of the cancer patient.
According to the results of the conducted and investigations, it was found that even episodic alcohol consumption in the presence of cancer increases the chance of death in a person by 2-3 times and significantly shortens life.
Such a circumstance, when patients, despite all the prohibitions and assurances, stubbornly indulge in frivolous alcoholic libation, leads to 20–25,000 cases of death with existing malignant neoplasms. Alcohol is especially dangerous for the following groups of cancer patients:
For both genders:
- cancer of the pharynx, throat, larynx;
- oncology of the digestive system;
- malignant tumors of the upper respiratory tract.
For women:
- diagnosed breast cancer;
- with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer (it has been established that about 15-20% of deaths from this disease are associated with alcohol consumption).
All the above facts clearly indicate that with such a disease as oncology, alcohol should be forgotten once and for all. You should not worsen your fate and shorten your life by checking this statistic on your own experience. On the contrary, one should not relax and not look for a non-existent outlet in alcohol, but make every effort and perseverance to defeat cancer using known and proven medical methods.
In contact with
18.02.2017
According to doctors, the prognosis for the development of cancer is disappointing: in 20 years, the number of diseases will double.
The treatment of cancer is not easy for both the doctor and the patient. Restrictions, diets, debilitating methods of dealing with pathology are far from a complete list of problems that the patient faces.
Chemotherapy is one of the most effective ways to fight cancer. Special drugs affect the development of cancer cells, completely or partially destroying the tumor. At the same time, the doctor will certainly insist on changing the diet in the direction of proper and wholesome food, advise you to lead a healthy lifestyle and give up bad habits. Can I drink alcohol after chemotherapy is over? Let's try to understand this issue more carefully.
Chemotherapy is difficult both from a physiological and psychological point of view in the treatment of any cancer. Despite its effectiveness, chemotherapy causes discomfort and discomfort to the patient, regardless of the drug used. Lack of appetite, distrust of the method due to the lack of a sharp improvement, deterioration in morale - all this a patient with oncology has to go through if he wants to be cured. There are frequent cases of hair loss, the intensity of which depends on the dose of the drug and the treatment regimen.
During chemotherapy treatment, the liver plays an important role, which perceives the load of drugs. It helps the body absorb toxins in the blood, so it should be taken care of more carefully during chemotherapy. Alcohol will only add an extra load to it, complicating the process of processing and assimilation of drugs. And in combination with them, it will cause side effects (nausea, vomiting, digestive disorders), but not from the liver, but from the gastrointestinal tract.
Drinking alcohol in such a difficult period for a person is dangerous - even one glass of beer or wine, which is considered a preventive measure for many diseases. Alcohol will have a negative impact, and the minimum damage from its impact on the patient is a decrease in the effectiveness of the treatment method, or the complete absence of positive changes. In addition to this, there will be side effects that cause a lot of trouble.
Alcohol is the cause of problems
Despite the fact that in such a difficult period, alcohol will help the patient to endure psychological and physical suffering, the risk of mortal danger from drinking alcohol in the presence of a tumor in any organ is one hundred percent, and an improvement in mood after drinking will only cause an additional desire to drink more. This will worsen health, which is already far from being in the best condition. Drinking alcohol during chemotherapy can cause the following problems:
- Increased manifestation of metastases;
- Deterioration of the effectiveness of treatment;
- Increased chances of death
- The disease progresses at a faster rate;
- The health and well-being of the patient is rapidly deteriorating.
In addition, during therapy, the patient will have to follow a diet, and alcohol without proper snacks (fatty, spicy and high-calorie foods) increases the level of danger to body systems.
On the day of chemotherapy, and the next after it, any products (as well as drugs) containing alcohol are excluded from use. Due to the fact that the body has not restored resistance, and its barrier functions are still weak, alcohol intake is prohibited. Compatibility of chemotherapy drugs and alcohol is unacceptable. But there is good news for wine lovers.
After the therapy, a little high-quality and real red wine will even be useful for improving mood, maintaining the immune system, restoring potential and restoring the efficiency of internal systems and organs. This alcoholic drink should not contain dyes and preservatives in the composition, and when consumed, it is important to observe moderation in the dose.
The danger of alcohol
It would seem - simple things that people forget: excessive and frequent alcohol intake only harms health. Alcohol is dangerous not only because it involves addiction. It is the cause of poisoning, and contributes to the occurrence of ailments. There is a violation in the process of the natural functioning of the organs, and oncological diseases, which are considered the most dangerous, can manifest themselves after drinking in excessive amounts.
The occurrence of cancer of the oral cavity, throat, stomach, esophagus, intestines most often occurs in a drinking person from toxins distributed in the blood and ethanol components.
Cancer and alcohol, although not the result of the formation of one from the other, but have a common connection. Alcohol contributes to the weakening of the body systems, which gives an advantage to the development of the disease.
Prognosis of chemotherapy treatment
Don't risk your own health. After chemotherapy is over, drinking alcohol is dangerous, because the progress of oncological pathology from this only intensifies, and consequently the risk of death increases. Every year, more than 20,000 patients die from continuing to abuse alcohol when they are diagnosed with cancer. At the same time, such loads are added to the body as:
- Violations of the organs of the cardiovascular system;
- Strengthening mental disorders;
- Weakening of the kidneys and liver;
- The problems caused by cancer are getting worse.
The interaction of chemotherapy drugs with the components of ethyl alcohol and the human body is manifested in patients with the formation of the above problems.
Abuse poses the greatest danger to women with breast cancer and patients with pathologies of the mouth, pharynx, throat, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract.
Women are advised to be especially careful in drinking alcohol during chemotherapy and after a period of treatment. The woman's body works a little differently: the time for which toxins are removed from the body is increased. This is due to the fact that the enzymes that are responsible for the breakdown of alcohol, the woman's liver secretes less than the male. And the water and fat balance is different, which is why the effect of alcohol on the internal organs is stronger.
The fact that the patient wants to feel comfortable is natural. And since chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy puts a strain on the body, the side effects negatively affect the patient's condition.
Pay attention to the diet. Enhance the taste of food. Meat and water are the products that patients most often complain about the change in taste can be replaced. Instead of meat dishes, enrich the body with protein from others - dairy, fish, eat eggs and legumes. Water can be replaced with mineral water, or simply add lemon slices to it.
Decreased appetite during chemotherapy is not a problem. It is advised to strengthen it with cream soups, nut butter, yogurt and light snacks.
What is the result?
The chemotherapy method has saved many patients who would have been doomed half a century ago. He proved his effectiveness and efficiency by the fact that today the treatment of any type of cancer at the acute stage is impossible without chemotherapy.
Despite the decrease in the result of treatment, alcohol has an antioxidant effect and increases appetite, so there is no complete ban on its use in oncology. During the period of chemotherapy, it is recommended to limit the dose of alcohol consumption. Not every person who consumes alcohol in excessive quantities finds himself with oncology. But it is the components of alcohol that start the development of a tumor that has matured for various reasons, and drinking alcohol for a long time contributes to the development of such problems:
- The level of lymphocytes in the blood decreases, and in those that have survived, the number of enzymes decreases.
- The protective effect of the liver is reduced.
The solution to the issue remains controversial: some doctors even recommend the use of alcohol themselves, but it is natural that it is forbidden to abuse it, and patients take it, if not directly, then in the form of tinctures. The intake of alcohol-containing drinks disrupts the natural process of producing cells that eliminate foreign bodies, which affects the immune system, and loads the liver, which is already enough. However, you can drink a glass of wine or beer to increase your appetite, but only after consulting your doctor.