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Beer!!!!!

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User
Posted 27 Sep 2025 at 18:50

Hi All,


I was told by the consultant a few beers evry now and then were ok. As I'm waiting for my next consultants appointment I thought I'd check with Dr Google who rather frightened me with tales of how alcohol promotes the growth of tumours. Then other reports were inconclusive and one saying red wine was actually good for PCe.


Were you given any advice by your Docs on the subject?


Cheers,


Steve

Edited by member 28 Sep 2025 at 07:00  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 10:20

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
 Yes, it's bad but how bad as I've still got the tumours on board and I don't want to give them any encouragement.


My alcohol consumption was so great, that if I still had tumours they would be drunk and incapable.


I've always been a heavy drinker, apart for seven years, when I was in my 50's,  I stopped completely. During that time, I didn't really see any benefits, other than a healthier bank account, so I started again.


I've carried on supping throughout my cancer diagnosis and treatment. In fact, for 'self medication purposes' I've probably drunk more, to relieve the stress.


Having said all that, recently I felt that I was drinking too much. Being an all or nothing sort of bloke, for the last month, I've gone  teatotal again.


I still go to the pub, but now drink pints of lime and soda, and don't drink alcohol at home anymore. I do seem to be sleeping a lot better, have more energy, and already seem to be losing some weight. 


I haven't a clue how booze has affected my treatment, but as I now feel better in myself being alcohol free, I shall continue to abstain.


I dreaded my pub mates taking the micky out of me, but surprisingly they've been quite supportive. Some even seem a bit envious of my will power. I get the impression, that deep down, most of them would like to cut down or pack in boozing.

Edited by member 28 Sep 2025 at 11:01  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 14:20

Just back from the pub. 2 pints of Wadworth's 6X consumed.


Most enjoyable!

User
Posted 27 Sep 2025 at 21:43
Alcohol consumed sufficiently to make it worthwhile is almost certainly bad for you.

BUT no point living without fun so don't beat yourself up about it if you get enjoy my ent from a drink or 3.
User
Posted 27 Sep 2025 at 23:12
My husband's doctor encourages a beer a day. I guess according to many posts that might not be the the best medical advice. But it reduces stress, makes him feel normal, and brings enjoyment. I think reducing stress must be good!
User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 08:51
To put it into perspective I have now been living with incurable cancer for 10 years. I’m 58. Let’s just say I’ve always enjoyed a tipple. Beer and wine. Never spirits.
Given my prognosis it’s probably been helping. I do exercise also and stay busy.
User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 09:08

I have to smile when my wife says " that's not good for you" . I looked up alcohol and apalutamide, it said they can both cause the same side effects., which includes falls. I find water can cause falls , I tripped over a 5 litre bottle of water the other day and fell.  


I think moderation is the order of the day. I have almost stopped drinking my usual gin , vodka or white wine, although I have rediscovered lager shandy,  but only the odd one or it affects my bladder. 


Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 09:36

Welcome to the club.   Thanks for this post.   I wish there was more on whether alcohol fuels PC tumour growth.  I was diagnosed PCa 12 months ago.  I’ve always been a heavy social drinker but despite efforts to cut back the last 12 months I’m back to now averaging 40-50 units a week.  It comes with the job.  Being married to a heavy wine drinker doesn’t assist.  We all weigh up the risks and I share Churchill’s outlook that I’ve taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.  My oncologist says try to get down to 14 units a week - more because if the liver goes on strike the range of medicines he can prescribe is hugely reduced.  I just wish there was more guidance and more help.  It’s a cruel enough disease with so many pleasures removed and alcohol is now my only vice.  But the guidance is mixed - there are many things you shouldn’t do / eat with PC - but alcohol is rarely mentioned.  I saw a dietitian several months ago who said definitely cut it out but she couldn’t tell me catagorically why and I wasn’t impressed with much of what she said.  So I remain hugely confused - though I will confess I will now probably seek therapy to try and cut it down significantly to give myself a fighting chance. 

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 10:42

Hi Colwickchris,


Your wife sounds a bit like mine.


Tahnks for your input.


Cheers,


Steve

User
Posted 29 Sep 2025 at 20:59
Steve#, from what I have seen I agree with your consultant that there isn't good evidence suggesting that moderate consumption of alcoholic drinks promotes a risk of prostate cancer. But it is always possible there is something convincing I haven't seen....

(And alcohol can increase the risk of some cancers, e.g. of the liver and the mouth/throat).

Having said that, Tony58 is definitely right that if the amount of alcohol is so high that liver function is affected, then there are some drugs which shouldn't be used. But that is far beyond moderate drinking levels.

What you found from Dr Google might have been the generalised evidence that people with a "healthy lifestyle" have a lower cancer incidence. But that involves multiple factors - dietary consumption of fruit and veg and different types of meat, alcohol, smoking, exercise, life stresses - and doesn't demonstrate that a particular component like alcohol can "feed" cancers.

User
Posted 30 Sep 2025 at 20:58

I have had a very healthy life style since my mid teens. Exercised lots, good food low meat consumption, like a drink but only low amounts. Never smoked. But guess what at 52 still got prostate cancer. So all the above clearly gives you a better life chances but I think there is a big dose of luck in all this.


 

User
Posted 30 Sep 2025 at 21:59
Jim234, that's the problem with studies of incidence. Looking at thousands or tens of thousands of men, the chance of PC during their lives might go down with healthy lifestyle (say from 15% to 12%) but for anyone personally they either get it or they don't. As you say, there is luck (bad luck).

However I hope your lifestyle improves your chances of a good recovery.
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User
Posted 27 Sep 2025 at 21:43
Alcohol consumed sufficiently to make it worthwhile is almost certainly bad for you.

BUT no point living without fun so don't beat yourself up about it if you get enjoy my ent from a drink or 3.
User
Posted 27 Sep 2025 at 23:12
My husband's doctor encourages a beer a day. I guess according to many posts that might not be the the best medical advice. But it reduces stress, makes him feel normal, and brings enjoyment. I think reducing stress must be good!
User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 07:03

That was my thought tbh but as I'm awaiting treatment I don't want to fuel the beast as it were so I'm really insure what to think.


The stress is absolutely killing me so a beer on an evening would be very welcome.


Thanks for your reply.


Steve.

Edited by member 28 Sep 2025 at 07:06  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 07:12

Thank. Yes, it's bad but how bad as I've still got the tumours on board and I don't want to give them any encouragement. But, my cancer is aggressive and of the type that's very likely to come back anyway so does it matter? I'm unsure.


Thanks for your response.

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 08:51
To put it into perspective I have now been living with incurable cancer for 10 years. I’m 58. Let’s just say I’ve always enjoyed a tipple. Beer and wine. Never spirits.
Given my prognosis it’s probably been helping. I do exercise also and stay busy.
User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 09:08

I have to smile when my wife says " that's not good for you" . I looked up alcohol and apalutamide, it said they can both cause the same side effects., which includes falls. I find water can cause falls , I tripped over a 5 litre bottle of water the other day and fell.  


I think moderation is the order of the day. I have almost stopped drinking my usual gin , vodka or white wine, although I have rediscovered lager shandy,  but only the odd one or it affects my bladder. 


Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 09:36

Welcome to the club.   Thanks for this post.   I wish there was more on whether alcohol fuels PC tumour growth.  I was diagnosed PCa 12 months ago.  I’ve always been a heavy social drinker but despite efforts to cut back the last 12 months I’m back to now averaging 40-50 units a week.  It comes with the job.  Being married to a heavy wine drinker doesn’t assist.  We all weigh up the risks and I share Churchill’s outlook that I’ve taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.  My oncologist says try to get down to 14 units a week - more because if the liver goes on strike the range of medicines he can prescribe is hugely reduced.  I just wish there was more guidance and more help.  It’s a cruel enough disease with so many pleasures removed and alcohol is now my only vice.  But the guidance is mixed - there are many things you shouldn’t do / eat with PC - but alcohol is rarely mentioned.  I saw a dietitian several months ago who said definitely cut it out but she couldn’t tell me catagorically why and I wasn’t impressed with much of what she said.  So I remain hugely confused - though I will confess I will now probably seek therapy to try and cut it down significantly to give myself a fighting chance. 

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 10:20

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
 Yes, it's bad but how bad as I've still got the tumours on board and I don't want to give them any encouragement.


My alcohol consumption was so great, that if I still had tumours they would be drunk and incapable.


I've always been a heavy drinker, apart for seven years, when I was in my 50's,  I stopped completely. During that time, I didn't really see any benefits, other than a healthier bank account, so I started again.


I've carried on supping throughout my cancer diagnosis and treatment. In fact, for 'self medication purposes' I've probably drunk more, to relieve the stress.


Having said all that, recently I felt that I was drinking too much. Being an all or nothing sort of bloke, for the last month, I've gone  teatotal again.


I still go to the pub, but now drink pints of lime and soda, and don't drink alcohol at home anymore. I do seem to be sleeping a lot better, have more energy, and already seem to be losing some weight. 


I haven't a clue how booze has affected my treatment, but as I now feel better in myself being alcohol free, I shall continue to abstain.


I dreaded my pub mates taking the micky out of me, but surprisingly they've been quite supportive. Some even seem a bit envious of my will power. I get the impression, that deep down, most of them would like to cut down or pack in boozing.

Edited by member 28 Sep 2025 at 11:01  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 10:29

That's good to know Chris.


Thanks


Steve

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 10:36

Thanks Adrian,


lol. I'm similar to you tbh and stopped drinking totally between the age of 56 and 61 but fell back into my old ways.


My situation is very stressful as nothing is fixed yet and although I'm seeing the surgical team on Tuesday everything is still up in the air. I'm guessing they will want a new mri and bone scan just to make sure there's no mets anywhere.


It's frustrating and is causing me a lot of anxiety hence a few beers on an evening.


Well done on giving up again.


Cheers


Steve


 

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 10:42

Hi Colwickchris,


Your wife sounds a bit like mine.


Tahnks for your input.


Cheers,


Steve

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 10:46

Hi Tony,


Yes, it's a problem with a couple of studies saying no alcohol to many more saying there isn't much of a link.


I'm probably going down the RALP route so I'll have to cut alcohol out for that but right now....it's tough.


Cheers


Steve.

User
Posted 28 Sep 2025 at 14:20

Just back from the pub. 2 pints of Wadworth's 6X consumed.


Most enjoyable!

User
Posted 29 Sep 2025 at 20:59
Steve#, from what I have seen I agree with your consultant that there isn't good evidence suggesting that moderate consumption of alcoholic drinks promotes a risk of prostate cancer. But it is always possible there is something convincing I haven't seen....

(And alcohol can increase the risk of some cancers, e.g. of the liver and the mouth/throat).

Having said that, Tony58 is definitely right that if the amount of alcohol is so high that liver function is affected, then there are some drugs which shouldn't be used. But that is far beyond moderate drinking levels.

What you found from Dr Google might have been the generalised evidence that people with a "healthy lifestyle" have a lower cancer incidence. But that involves multiple factors - dietary consumption of fruit and veg and different types of meat, alcohol, smoking, exercise, life stresses - and doesn't demonstrate that a particular component like alcohol can "feed" cancers.

User
Posted 30 Sep 2025 at 17:07

Thanks J-B.


Steve.

User
Posted 30 Sep 2025 at 20:58

I have had a very healthy life style since my mid teens. Exercised lots, good food low meat consumption, like a drink but only low amounts. Never smoked. But guess what at 52 still got prostate cancer. So all the above clearly gives you a better life chances but I think there is a big dose of luck in all this.


 

User
Posted 30 Sep 2025 at 21:59
Jim234, that's the problem with studies of incidence. Looking at thousands or tens of thousands of men, the chance of PC during their lives might go down with healthy lifestyle (say from 15% to 12%) but for anyone personally they either get it or they don't. As you say, there is luck (bad luck).

However I hope your lifestyle improves your chances of a good recovery.
 
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