Alcohol and Breast Cancer Recurrence

December 10, 2009

Recurrence is a key issue of concern for survivors after treatment. It is one of those nagging questions that simply never seems to go away. Certainly some survivors have more difficulty with the fear of recurrence than others. The good news in fighting this fear is that we know there are some modifiable factors that contribute to recurrence. In other words, there are some lifestyle choices survivors can make to improve their chances against recurrent cancers.

Recently at the American Association of Cancer Research Breast Cancer Symposium, some eyebrow-raising research was debuted concerning breast cancer survivors, alcohol, obesity, and recurrence. The study examined nearly 2000 women who had survived invasive breast cancer. The women were studied for up to eight years, and they provided researchers with information about their alcohol consumption and other lifestyle factors.

Bottom line, the researchers found that as alcohol consumption increases, so does the risk of recurrence. Women who reported consuming less than 3 drinks per week, didn’t seem to have any increased risk, but survivors who imbibed more than 3 drinks seemed to be at much greater risk. The researchers also suggested that consuming more than three drinks per week and being obese could put a survivor at even higher risk.

So what’s the take home message? Should breast cancer survivors not have that glass of red they love on Friday evenings? Absolutely not. The message from this research is moderation. Enjoy a glass of wine or a beer on Friday or Saturday night, but don’t make it a nightly ritual. The other message here is that obesity is a risk factor for poor health outcomes. To prevent obesity, or to lose weight when necessary, exercise and proper nutrition are key. Here is a great video from the experts on the CT Challenge Team lauding the benefits of exercise for cancer survivors.