Are Some Alcoholic Drinks Safer for Breast Cancer Than Others?
No single alcoholic drink is safer than others when it comes to metastatic breast cancer.
“Regardless of drinking a lite craft beer, organic red wine, or a distilled spirit, it is the total volume of ethanol consumed which increases the risk of biological damage,” Khan says.
Safe Drinking Practices for People With Metastatic Breast Cancer
Again, no amount of alcohol is considered safe for breast cancer.
Experts recommend experimenting with alcohol-free beverages instead. “Make them feel special by serving them in a fun glass such as a champagne flute and include a garnish,” McLean says.
Some of her favorites include:
- Nonalcoholic beers or wines
- Sparkling water flavored with fresh herbs or fruit
- Water infused with mint and cucumbers or berries and mint
- Herbal teas
- Mocktails
Ultimately, whether to drink alcohol with breast cancer is an individual decision.
“There is a need to balance living your life and knowing what the current scientific evidence shows,” Ko says. “We make choices every day on how to live our own best lives. Special occasions and social connections are important, too. Despite what we know about the risks and concerns surrounding alcohol and breast cancer, I would encourage someone with cancer to take the risks they are most comfortable with.”
However, “given the current data and emerging data, the less alcohol the better,” she continues.
If you are going to drink, the American Cancer Society advises drinking no more than one alcoholic beverage per day for women and two per day for men (although the organization says it’s best not to drink any alcohol).
Additionally, staying hydrated is essential for digestion, kidney function, medication metabolism, circulation, and energy levels, McLean says.
“Alcohol acts as a diuretic, which can increase fluid losses and contribute to dehydration,” she explains. “At the same time, some cancer treatments and their side effects can increase a person’s risk of dehydration.”
Adequate hydration may help reduce both treatment-related side effects and some of the negative effects associated with alcohol consumption, she says.
Monitoring symptoms while drinking alcohol is important. “Individuals should pay attention to how alcohol affects them for 24 to 48 hours after consumption,” McLean says. “Symptoms to monitor include fatigue, nausea, dehydration, dizziness, reflux, headaches, [and] sleep disruption, among others. Any concerns should be discussed directly with a person’s oncology care team.”
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