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About Radiation ~ Something Very Interesting

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Posted 9/18/2009 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
In the supermarket today saw this in a tabloid (Enquirer)

Don't know if it will do any good, but it's harmless and something everyone on radiation could try.

The picture in the article shows a woman holding a goblet of probably 8 oz of white wine. Maybe red wine is just as good...article doesn't say.

My radiation treatments will start about a month or more from now, haven't had surgery yet and I'm going to try it.  Hey it just might work, couldn't hurt.

Grape news!

Drinking wine while undergoing radiation treatment can reduce the effects of skin damage in women with breast cancer.

 

In a study of 348 patients, investigators found that drinking one glass of wine a day cut the incidence of skin toxicity from 38.4 to 13.6 percent.

 

Wine might also have the potential to enhance the theraputic benefit in cancer patients without increasing their risk of serious adverse effects said Dr. Vincenzo Valentini, a radiation oncologist at Rome's Catholic University.

 

For more information: Google

Breast Cancer Wine and Radiation.

Lots of links come up.

 

Post Edited (mcjane) : 9/18/2009 5:00:33 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/18/2009 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe a good thing I did not know this. I would have figured if one glass helps just think what a bottle would do. LOL Good luck with your rads.
Posted 9/19/2009 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
lemonz....one bottle and I wouldn't show up :-)

From what I'm reading the most protective
is a full glass so guessing 8 oz.

Not a wine drinker, but will be.....!
Posted 9/19/2009 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
Just let your onc know that you are tipping the wine glass on a regular basis... a glass of wine a day can make your liver enzymes tipsy, too! Especially if you're not a drinker.

Hugs...
BEV
Posted 9/19/2009 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Not a drinker and if I'm out will have just one.

Really don't like wine very much. too sour for me.

Seriously I would feel an 8oz glass of wine so couldn't drink one just before radiation.

If I could sip on it during the day would be OK.

I'm not sure just when your supposed to do it, but anything to prevent radiation burns is something I would try.

Grape jusce might work. and I will certainly ask my onc.

Thanks Bev would not have thought of mentioning it.

Jane

Posted 9/19/2009 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
I cook with wine alot...sometimes I even add it to the food! LOL
Posted 9/20/2009 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
barkyboys

Now there's something I hadn't thought of....good idea. :-)
Posted 9/20/2009 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
This is actually a riot. Do we realize how messed up we get and how we will grasp anything while going through treatment? I bet few of us would actually even think about something in a tabloid if our life was normal. Love the comment about adding it to the food. Hope you all know its only a myth that all the alcohol cooks out. I never realized that until I made an Italian Fresh Ham with the wine and had my brother over for pork sandwiches. He ended up in the hospital because he has an allergy to alcohol. I was not allowed to drink during Chemo and rads, but I have no idea if it was because of the combo or if everyone gets thrown on the wagon. Lots of luck and I will be interested to see how you do with the wine and treatment and if you are allowed to do it. Hugs, Joyce
Posted 9/20/2009 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Joyce
Messed up, your so right I'm ready to grasp at anything and I'm not kidding. I'm glad you posted and mentioned you were not allowed to drink while on chemo & rads. I have to talk this over with my onco who I see for the first time tomorrow. She is Marisa Weiss president & founder of breastcancer.org so I feel I'm in good hands with a doctor who is very up to date. Can't wait to meet her. My breast surgeon is Jennifer Sabol who is also involved with breastcancer.org and works hand in hand with Marisa Weiss at Lankenau Hosp. in Wynwood, PA and Jefferson Hosp. in Philadelphia.


I'll be having my surgery at Lankenau which is about 45 minutes from me and my rads at Riddle Memorial hosp which is 10 minutes away. Jefferson hosp runs the radiation dept at Riddle...was glad to see that.

Was it difficult getting through chemo & rads, did you take Herceptin and did you have any other chemo along with it? How long ago did you have treatment? Was your cancer in the right or left breast. I read if it's on the left the radiologist had to be very careful to protect your heart from radiation. Never would have thought of that one !
My cancer is on the left. Also wondering if the rads burned you and shrink your breast?

Herceptin side effects are so scary I'm afraid of it.

I've been reading everything I can find on HER2+ (NEU) invasive ductive cancer treatments, which I have, and side effects, but nothing beats talking to someone who has gone through treatment. Hoping you'll share your experience wuth me, but will understand if you don't want to.

You have solved the big myth about cooking with alcohol......obviously it does not cook out. :-)
Always thought it did!!!

Sorry for your brother that solving the myth was at his expense and hope he made a full recovery.

Jane

Post Edited (mcjane) : 9/20/2009 11:52:09 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/20/2009 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
I had IBC with my Axilla having captured enough cancer cells to be over 5 cm. I was diagnosed almost 11 years ago. My treatment was a new trial for IBC and actually they discontinued it when only two of us did well. I can tell you everyone I have ever talked to has ended up with a new perky boob. Without recon surgery if you are any size at all you will be tilted. After surgery make sure you do your exercises so you do not get frozen arm. Radiation in and of itself is nothing more pain wise than an x ray. The only thing, as I can see you are aware of, is the darn burn. If you do start with burning do not be proud beg the burn unit for what ever they use that equals second skin. Its the only thing that helped me. They told me if your big you usually burn more but my sister in law is much larger than I am and yet she never burned at all. Her mom was very thin and she burned. Seems with treatment the only rule is there is not rule except ....The one day at a time rule.
Posted 9/21/2009 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Joyce, Thanks for sharing, kinda knew you would everyone here does and that's part of why we're here. How lucky for you that you were one of the two who benefited from a new trial for IBC

You give me a lot of hope being an 11 year survivor.
I am concerned about the rad burn, also have very fair skin and am blond so don't know if that has anything to do with it, doubt it though and your One Day At A Time rule is the for sure the only rule.

I wonder if it was Silvadene Cream that you used, we used it in the hospital on burns.
If not, not to proud to be begging at the burn unit. :-)

I'm not thin, not fat either 5'2" 130 lbs with small very droopy breasts and that's why I am getting the lift same day as surgery. Both my surgeon & plastic surgeon have agreed. He will do the anchor procedure. I will do my exercises, but maybe my cancer has not spread to my lymph nodes.

Will let you know tomorrow, I expect the report to be back.
Posted 9/21/2009 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
I have nothing of importance to add to this thread but I just wanted to say I enjoyed your conversations! Good to hear more from you Joyce! Hugs MK
Posted 9/21/2009 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi gals...I am all for a glass of wine to cure what ails ya...but Jane, regarding wine or cream or anything, be sure to ask the doc first. I found that during rad tx, doctors seemed to have different preferences and recommendations on skin care, vitamins, etc. You want to be careful that you don't do anything that will help the cancer cells out by mistake. And many don't burn with rads, so the cream may not be needed. I was lucky, no burns or blisters, and just used regular products for moisture and my own regular deodorant too.

Glad to see you are doing your homework and finding good uses for wine though!
Posted 9/21/2009 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Good news today, met my onco, Marisa Weiss, loved her, her enthusiasim is contageous.
She told me my cancer was
NOT HER2+ it is HER2-
100% estrogen R +
60% progesterone R +
She said both numbers are high and very good.
So all in all a very good day.

Will not be taking Herceptin, will have 6 weeks of rads. Not sure about chemo and will know after surgery.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think what all of this means I have a lesser chance of the cancer recurring with a HER2 -- am I right Lori?

All I'm waiting for now is my surgery date.

I forgot to ask her about the wine darn it, but did mention skin cream from the burn unit. She said we have everything here you'll need and will be minitored every day for burns.

She also talked about my cancer being on the left side and the importance of protecting my heart from rads.

We talked about Breastcancer.org told her I spend a few hours there everyday also told her I heard about BC.org on HW.com...she said she works with them too...probably writing articles, not sure though. She is very enthused about her web site and should be...
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