Does Alcohol Exasperate secondary liver cancer?

Question

Please no answers unless you are sincere....

im trying to find out what effect alcohol has regarding exasperating secondary liver cancer? Will it make the cancer take over faster or will there be little difference?

i thank you for your quick response.. ive looked on the internet and cant find any actual site that gives any information about this.. does anyone know a site that i could refer too ?

If you have already answered please edit your answer and update if you can point me in the right direction for a website..... xx

Primary cancer of the pancreas.. received Chemo but now stopped half way through treatment, there appears to be no real significant change. Im not asking about pints and pints etc... just a few glasses of wine or baileys or just a few gin and tonics etc...

Answer 1

Secondary carcinoma in the liver ismostly terminal, with regards to anything that impinges on liver function it isn't good to stress the liver but it depends on what your prognosis is and in what quantities of alcohol we are talking about

Answer 2

I agree with Grizzler but would add that cancer that has metastisised from another organ to the liver is not liver cancer but retains the name of the primary site (eg colon). That being the case, it is very unlikely that you would be accepted for resection until the primary cancer has been dealt with. Therefore it would be an extremely foolhardy thing to continue to drink while you are receiving treatment.

If your liver is damaged because of alcohol, for example, then again it is extremely unlikely that you would be accepted for resection. In that case, assuming the primary site has been dealt with, you would be looking at a transplant. Obviously it would not do your case any good if you could not demonstrate your willingness to stop drinking.

I have never come across a medical site that debates the use of alcohol by liver cancer patients. I think the lack of such debate speaks volumes of the likely conclusions.

Answer 3

In a nutshell, no, unless the tumour load in your liver is very high, in which case you wont want to drink alcohol anyway.

Important point, secondary liver cancer is not ALWAYS terminal. It depends on the number, size and location of the tumours, and to the site of the primary to see if it is surgically resectable +/- RFA.

The reason why alcohol has little effect is that secondary cancer has little impact on the functioning of the liver itself. It occupies space previously held by presumed healthy liver tissue, but given that you can be left with around 20% of your liver and still survive, it is not going to speed up the effects of the tumour growing in the liver. The exception to this is any predisposed liver conditions, Hepatitis, HCT, Wilsons, cirrhosis, NASH etc...which will have already left the liver struggling to perform daily functions.

I am not aware of any websites which tell you this, but i presume you will be under the care of an oncologist even if you're not having chemotherapy, so please speak to them, or one of their team. If not, contact Macmillan or your specialist nurse.

Edit

If the person is feeling symptom free, and would like to have a few drinks, there is nothing wrong in that at all. Given, as i'm sure you are aware, the unfortunate prognosis for pancreatic cancer, my advice, and that of most i have met in HBP medicine, will be to drink if you would like to, but that be aware that a heavy "binge" may cause your symptoms to flare for several days, not from the liver point of view, but the pancreas as well. It is often a case of, if you enjoy it, do it. It wont progress the disease any more rapidly.

Answer 4

alcohol is filtered through the body mainly through the liver though a carcinoma will impede the filtration system immensly however having a lot of experience of this a person with liver cancer will probably know and realise this , and take actions accordingly though liver cancer is a very painful way to go why stop them having a little enjoyment whilst they can speaking palliatively .Ihope you don't come down too hard on the person you are seeking advice for as there time is limited on this mortal coil yet enjoy your time with them whilst you can

Answer 5

I have not found a website on my initial search but I have stage IV colon cancer with mets (spread to) my liver. I am currently waiting to have a liver resection. I asked the surgeon if I could still drink alcohol and he said 'yes, in moderation'. He did not seem too concerned with my question - in other words he was not adamant that I don't drink.

Answer 6

My dear mother-in-law had secondary liver cancer (she originally had breast cancer), and was told NOT to drink alcohol as her liver was enlarged, she was allowed a half pint of guinness a day if she wanted it. The best thing to do is ask your heptologist.

Answer 7

first response is that it must exacerbate the problem
however as for actual impact of alcohol on the acceleration of cancerous producing cells I actully doubt it would affect them one way or the other.
That said
Really no idea bet the NHS hasn't either as no studies done
but it would be obvious that it would
not be too brilliant an idea to drink with liver cancer anyway
but we do......

Answer 8

This is not an official conclusion but alcohol no doubt will speed up any kind of problem with the liver.Alcohol breaks down the renewed tissue that the liver would of rebuilt. In my opinion, Please dont drink and give yourself a better chance.

Answer 9

You should not be touching any alcohol with liver cancer it obviously does not help matters in fact alcohol can cause liver cancer.

Answer 10

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