Alcohol Alcohol can be irritating to patients with oral and esophageal mucositis and can exacerbate that condition. It therefore seems reasonable to recommend that alcohol intake should be avoided or limited among patients with mucositis and among those starting head and neck radiotherapy and/or chemotherapeutic regimens that put them at risk for mucositis. Alcohol should also be avoided during chemotherapy with methotrexate and other agents that may cause hepatotoxicity. While there is substantial evidence that alcohol may increase the risk of developing several cancers (such as cancers of the head and neck, liver, and breast),2 there is less evidence related to alcohol and survival from cancer. Alcohol increases the risk of cancers of the head and neck and liver mostly because of tissue damage that results from high levels of alcohol intake and, for the former site, a synergistic interaction with tobacco. There is little reason to believe that the levels of alcohol use that are sufficient to reduce the risk of heart disease—i.e., one drink per day—will affect the risk of recurrence of cancers of the head and neck or liver. [One alcoholic drink is equal to 5 oz. of red or white wine, 12 oz. of beer, 1 oz. of hard liquor.] However, epithelial carcinogenesis in head and neck cancers involves a field effect, and multiple synchronous or metachronous primary lesions are not uncommon. Since survivors with upper aerodigestive carcinomas might be especially prone to new primary lesions, it could be considered prudent to suggest that they avoid regular alcohol use, if they drink at all. For cancer survivors who have previously had problems controlling their intake of alcohol, however, total abstinence is the best choice. Increased risk of breast cancer has been shown to occur at doses as low as one to two drinks per day.36 The mechanism for this effect is not known, but may be related to the effects of alcohol on estrogen levels in women.36 If this is true, then alcohol intake, even in low doses, might have adverse effects on the prognosis of breast cancer, especially for women with hormone-responsive tumors. Alcoholic beverages supply calories, but few nutrients. Thus, people who drink heavily may be substituting alcohol for nutrient-rich foods. This is a concern for the cancer survivor, who may have increased nutritional needs. There has been some interest in the role of antioxidant flavonoids that exist in red wine95 for decreasing risk of heart disease or certain cancers.96-98 At this point, the effects of these factors on cancer risk or in enhancing survival after cancer are unknown. These beneficial phytonutrients can be obtained, however, by consuming fruits and vegetables. If alcohol is consumed, cancer survivors should be encouraged to limit its use to no more than one to two drinks per day. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.