Hormone treatment and alcohol

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Hello

Looking for advice - my husband is taking Enzalutamide daily and 3 monthly Prosap injections for metastatic prostate cancer 

Could you advise on alcohol consumption - he was advised by his consultant that the odd glass of wine is fine but what does odd glass mean. He loves his beer and wine and feels he just wants to live his life - fair enough but I am finding it difficult as I feel he should eat and drink less to maximise the time he has left but is there any evidence that cutting down on alcohol makes a difference?

Grateful for your thoughts,

Claire

  • Hi Claire

    Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Sarah, one of the cancer information nurses here on the Macmillan support line.

    I can see that you have joined some of our online forums, I hope you are finding them a supportive space for you.

    Finding the balance with consuming alcohol when on medication is difficult. We would usually advise that your husband's consultant is best placed to answer this as each consultant has different ideas.

    Drinking too much alcohol can have an effect on our whole body. Current research points to health risks even with low amounts of alcohol consumption. Bearing this in mind we also know how much drinking alcohol can be a part of us ‘living our lives’ and can have a positive effect on mental health.

    CRUK states there is no evidence that alcohol affects the growth of prostate cancer. It also suggests reducing alcohol intake, eating a healthy diet and drinking plenty of fluids is important for overall health and maintaining a healthy weight.

    Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to talk things through. Sometimes it’s better to talk to one of our nurses so we can gain a better understanding of the current situation and give you the best guidance.

    I hope this information helps. Please feel free to get back in touch if you want more information or support.

    Best wishes,

    Sarah

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email

    Ref/ HK/SS

    Sarah S-Macmillan Cancer Information Nurse Specialist