Does Alcohol Interact With Kidney Cancer Treatment?
Alcohol can interact with some kidney cancer treatments, but its effect varies depending on whether you’re preparing for surgery or actively receiving treatment.
Before Surgery
Elhaddad and Chen recommend avoiding alcohol if you’re preparing for a nephrectomy (a common kidney cancer surgery in which a surgeon removes part or all of the affected kidney).
Because alcohol can increase your risk of dehydration, Chen recommends avoiding it before surgery, to help make your recovery smoother.
Your risk of bleeding during any surgery may also be higher if you drink alcohol beforehand, says Elhaddad, who adds that alcohol can also interfere with anesthesia and slow wound healing. Avoiding alcohol about two to four weeks before surgery can help lower the risk of these complications.
During Treatment
Once systemic treatment — such as immunotherapy or targeted therapy — begins, whether you’re clear to drink alcohol depends on the type of therapy you’re receiving and the side effects you’re experiencing, says Chen. “For many patients, limiting or avoiding alcohol during this time is the safest approach,” he adds, since alcohol can make treatment side effects like dehydration, fatigue, mouth sores, and digestive problems harder to manage.
Mixing alcohol with certain kidney cancer medications or the drugs used to manage treatment side effects can also increase the risk of serious complications, Elhaddad says. Here’s how alcohol can interact with some common kidney cancer treatments and supportive medications, according to Elhaddad:
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