Taking anastrozole, can I drink alcohol on holiday ?

Hi Eljat , I think you’ll get a range of responses to this question. I can only say what I understand to be the case (I’m not a medic) and talk from my own experience. 
So, my understanding is that alcohol is considered to play a part in the development of some breast cancers. From what I’ve read, this is widely accepted to be the case. But what seems to be less clear is how much it may play a part in recurrence. Generally speaking, facts and figures regarding recurrence generally are quite hard to come by. 
For my own part, I’ve chosen not to have any alcohol at all, since my diagnosis back in 2018. But I’d never say that’s the ‘right’ approach for anyone else. For me it feels like it’s not worth the risk that it might be a factor in recurrence. I don’t miss alcohol and have actually found that other people are more the problem! I’ve lost count of how often I’ve been asked if I’d like ‘just the one glass’. 
But for some people that drink would be an important part of a holiday, special occasion or whatever, and they wouldn’t want to be as hardline as me. And given that we all react differently to drugs and even foods, I suspect that some people’s genetic makeup means that alcohol has no effect on their chances of getting cancer or a recurrence anyway! But because I don’t know for sure, I err on the side of caution. 
For me it’s also part of a wider approach that makes me feel more in control. I’ve revised my diet and do a lot more exercise than I did before cancer. I’m lucky though that I’m now retired so am able to choose how I spend my time! 
Sorry for the rambling response - I blame the Anastrozole for my inability to be concise! 
Forgot to say - re being given advice re alcohol: no direct advice from any of the medical team. But I attended a session with a dietitian at Future Dreams House in London (strongly recommend this lovely place and they do online stuff as well as in person). She recommended no alcohol for anyone with oestrogen positive breast cancer. 
In the end I think it’s a very individual choice. I’ve made mine but would also say don’t beat yourself up about it if you’d really like a few drinks on your special cruise. We need to enjoy our lives all the more when it’s been threatened by cancer! Love and hugs, HFxx

I think it’s down to personal choice. There’s nothing that says it will definitely cause reoccurrence, they just don’t know for sure. My auntie got breast cancer at 50, she had successful treatments and changed all her diet and didn’t drink, it still came back. 

I never really drank a lot in general but I did every weekend in my twenties and was diagnosed at 40. Every day I think did I do this to myself with my poor choices in life so I don’t drink at all anymore. I have friends who drink a lot each week and none of them has ever got cancer so I think just enjoy your life. I remember one of the chemo nurses saying we want you to live in the sense of enjoy life so they can only advise you but you’ve got to live your life. What’s a couple of drinks on your birthday? Enjoy yourself x 

Thank you for taking the time to reply Happy Feet and Sparkle.

I thought I had made my decision, I would relax, celebrate birthdays and Christmas with a drink of wine and turn my back on one of the worst years of my life.  
It’s just that now I am scared.

I’m exactly the same… sending hugs xx 

Don't be scared, you have just ran and won your  best marathon ever.The only advice i was given regarding the demon drink was always make sure when removing the cork,point it away from you...hic.....kind regards

BWBC, Thank you, you have made me smile.  

Hi Eljat 

I am 8 years post diagnosis with similar as you - stage 1, radio and Anastrozole for 5 years.  I drink alcohol and although initially I didn't, when I went on holiday just before my first mammogram, I drank alcohol and the mammogram it came back all clear - so based on that I thought it's just one of those things that you can do without over indulging.  So now I do drink at weekends and if I go out with my friends for a night out etc.  I have absolutely no worries or concerns that it's alcohol that will affect me in relation to cancer now and I too will be going on a cruise beginning of September and WILL enjoy a few drinks - probably most days!  

Initially on diagnosis we worry all the time that the cancer's going to come back, but over time this fades and we get more confident in our bodies not letting us down.  At this point, as long as you follow a reasonably healthy lifestyle, then everything in moderation is ok, in my opinion. (as previous posters, I'm not a medic - just what I think)

The lumpectomy, the radio. and the anastrozole have done/doing their job to stop the cancer returning - 3 steps of treatment to stop it coming back, but obviously it's what you feel comfortable doing and if it's going to give you anxiety, then perhaps opt for non alcoholic cocktails or something like that?

Kindest wishes and enjoy your cruise.

Lesley

I’ve been told that the odd drink shouldn’t do any harm.

On our last cruise I worked my way through the non-alcoholic cocktails, and asked the bar staff to make non-alcoholic versions of others. Talking to the bar staff I found that they had a good range of non-alcoholic options behind the bar. I felt I was joining in the fun without any of the worry.

Hi Lesleyhelen,

I know that my cancer was small, I had clear margins and my sentinel lymph nodes did not show any sign of cancer, I have had a lumpectomy, radiotherapy and am taking my anastrozole for the next 5 years, so I should be reassured by this and move on.  
No Doctor has even told me not to drink. - It’s just that nagging little voice at the back of my mind.   
I don’t plan on drinking to excess but I would like to have a glass of wine with dinner and a cocktail as the sun goes down……but can I have that, without increasing my risk of my cancer coming back.  (They say even 1 drink increases your risk).  This is my dilemma!

Hi Carrie, Thanks for your reply.  
Have you ever found a non alcoholic red wine that tastes anything like the real thing?