PLEASE HELP! Alcohol and chemotherapy drug interactions?

Question

No one is answering this question...and I really need to know....

Does anyone know the ramifications of abusing alcohol while receiving chemotherapy? What is the effect? My mother in law is currently undergoing chemo for stage 3 ovarian cancer. The problem is that she is a major alcoholic. She has recently (in the last few weeks) she has gone back to her old ways of drinking heavily. Anyone who has known of this situation who can comment? Thanks in advance.

By the way, I would ask the doctor but they will not talk to me. Ever heard of the privacy act? They won't discuss with me.

She's been taking Prozac for about 15 years. She has a psychiatrist that is nothing to her but a drug pusher. Oh, and she has no money to afford any kind of professional help other than a support group. We really want her to go to AA but she won't. Her daughter takes care of her and is a classic enabler.

Answer 1

There are several issues (off the top of my head) I see with taking chemo and drinking alcohol. The first would be it is more likley that your MIL will become dehydrated. People on chemo need to be well hydrated to help flush the chemo out of their body. This may lead to increased toxicities from the chemo. Also, alcohol tends to depress the immune system. Your MIL's immune system will already be compromised from the chemo putting her at higher risk of overwhelming infection and possible sepsis. I would also be concerned about her falling and injuring herself. Her platlet count might be low and she could bleed very badly. And finally, the question would need to be raised as to how the chemo is interacting with the alcohol. Is the alcohol stopping the chemo from doing it's job?

Perhaps you MIL is experiencing depression (and who wouldn't with stage 3 ovarian cancer?) Would she consider talking about it with a counselor or possibly starting an antidepressant to help her through this?

Answer 2

Like I said before, she's gonna make herself more prone to secondary infections and diseases which she's already susceptible to because of the chemo. Talk to her and see why she's drinking again, call her oncologist's office and ask a general question about chemo and alchohol. Then let them know that your MIL is drinking heavily. They might give you more info.

Answer 3

I am sure that her doctor would advise against drinking for a number of reason only one of which is that she will likely experience nausea. You are usually told to avoid any antioxidant foods or medication. She is probably drinking because of major depression. Pouring a depressant substance like alcohol over feelings of depression is making it worse. Just call up the hospital or treatment center and ask the nurse for her opinion on the question and not a specific patient.

Answer 4

Marinol is the brand name of dronabinol, the same psychoactive agent found in marijuana. Dronabinol is FDA-approved to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and AIDS-related anorexia (though I have also seen it used in cancer-related anorexia). We're not entirely sure how the drug works, but current thought is that it involves the cannabinoid receptors. It also probably has some effect on the sympathetic nervous system as rapid heart rate and anxiety have been reported with its use.

Answer 5

Talk with the Dr. Usually alcohol and chemo together is a major no-no. You MIL may be depressed and has given up and decided to do what she did before - Good Luck...

Answer 6

Why don't you just ask the Doctor?

Answer 7

my aunt had terminal cancer and drank till the end . she said its her life and death and she would do it her way . we let her, she was an adult and was hurting noone. she handled it fine as far as getting sick or anything goes , and of course she never drove a car.