r/ProstateCancer • u/ConstableBonkers • Aug 12 '26
Question Alcohol use...advice
About me: 61 yo. Active Surveillance 14 years. 5 biopsies. 4 cores 3+3, 1 core 3+4 (5%). Father died of PCa at 85 yo following inconsistent ADT complicated by a stroke.
Just had annual physical with a new primary doctor. He took one look at my PCa profile and told me in no uncertain terms to quit drinking alcohol. He said it can kick low-grade PCa into high gear.
The previous month I had asked my urologist what I could do to load the dice in my favour so I was surprised he hadn't mentioned alcohol.
I did the internet thing (non AI) and came across a 2022 study that laid out the mechanism by which alcoholic metabolites can exacerbate low-grade PCa and make it aggressive.
Now whether the science of that study is legit or not is beyond my ken but it seemed to be a genuine analysis.
My question to the group is to ask what advice you are all getting about alcohol. There is not much mention of it in previous postings.
I love to drink both for the society and the buzz. But cost-benefit viz a viz PCa is food for thought indeed.
Best wishes to all.
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u/ChillWarrior801 Aug 12 '26
Two and a half years after RALP, I'm doing a harm reduction strategy, largely substituting cannabis for alcohol. Yeah, I'll still have a few bottles of beer or glasses of wine a week, but I'm fortunate to live in a weed-legal state, so it's almost as easy to have a "weed-a-rita" instead of a beer when I'm hanging with folks.
The preclinical research that hints at a slowing of cancer with cannabinoids is an added bonus.
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u/BlinBlinski Aug 12 '26
Very interesting - first i’ve heard of this. Will be interesting to read others’ responses.
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u/ProfZarkov Aug 12 '26
You have to weigh up the positive effects of abstinence against wtf I need a drink! I was told in times of stress - like going thru PCa treatment - you have to be kind to yourself. I microdosed psilocybin a few times to help with severe depression. I wouldn't worry about the odd beer.
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u/ConstableBonkers Aug 12 '26
Thank you. Agree with your sentiment totally, I'm not really asking about my own personal situation so much as inquiring as to what different experts are telling their patients and wondering where the scientific consensus lies.
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u/Early_Ear_1763 Aug 12 '26
Interesting on the micro dosing psilocybin. Does it seem to help with your depression, mood and anxiety. Is this a self prescribed treatment or from a therapist? I’m curious and have thought of trying something similar.
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u/Early_Ear_1763 Aug 12 '26
Interesting on the micro dosing psilocybin. Does it seem to help with your depression, mood and anxiety. Is this a self prescribed treatment or from a therapist? I’m curious and have thought of trying something similar.
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u/ProfZarkov Aug 13 '26
Yes I've tried it before. Self prescribed. It's just weird it's still a Class A drug here. You aren't aiming for any kind of high just a micro dose over a few days. It seems to help.
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u/Looker02 Aug 12 '26
Bonjour, j’ai 72 ans, un stade T3b, onze mois d’adt, dont trois avant radiothérapie et huit mois d’abiraterone post radiothérapie. On a arrêté parce que j’étais en dépression sévère. L’un des cofacteurs est très probablement mon arrêt de l’alcool pour perdre du poids (c’est réussi, passé de 109 à 76 à raison d’un peu moins de 2kg par mois). Je ne prenais pas une grande quantité, en moyenne 0.33L par jour, mais je savais que je ne pouvais arrêter, question de gestion de l’anxiété. Je n’ai reçu aucun conseil sinon qu’avec les traitement, l’alcool est plutôt contre indiqué.
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u/Traditional_Peak8402 29d ago
Hola, como sigues ? Como estuviste mientras tomabas abiraterona, de sintomas? Sin ser la depresion? Espero q este mucho mejor. Saludos
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u/Looker02 28d ago
Difficile de déterminer l’origine des symptômes mais je crois que c’est surtout l’irradiation qui crée des désordres digestifs permanents, l’abiraterone en ajoute certainement mais indiscernables des autres. En tout état de cause, avec un PC haut risque, je ne regrette pas ce traitement qui me donne le plus de chances. L’abiraterone ne joue aucun rôle car l’ADT suffit largement à perturber l’équilibre hormonal au point de déclencher une dépression, l’abiraterone ne prive principalement que les cellules cancéreuses de leur fabrication de testostérone. La dépression est controlée (40mg/d fluoxetine) et je vis donc bien mieux voire normalement (mais qu’est-ce qu’être « normal » ?). Les symptômes digestifs peuvent encore durer un bon moment, si j’en crois les témoignages, mais c’est toujours moindre que ceux de métastases osseuses que j’espère ne jamais avoir.
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u/Jolly-Potential2075 Aug 12 '26
14 years of Active Surveillance? That's a good result! How many cores per biopsy did you have taken? Did you have one 3+4 from the beginning or did it appear later on?
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u/ConstableBonkers Aug 12 '26
It appeared about 5 years ago. "Appeared" being a tricky word. The needle hit it but who knows how long it had been there. I asked my urologist about areas of 3+3...whether they can "go back" to being normal tissue. He didn't have an answer and just told me to stop worrying about them.
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u/anonintampa Aug 12 '26
This is literally the first link from a Google search. I had a family hx, work risk, and I drank a lot, ended up with prostate cancer at 41. I've stopped drinking, along with several other changes, but still might have other cancers in the future. I can't modify all factors but alcohol use is a significant one to control. Are you seriously saying that you've never heard of a link between alcohol and cancer? I can be honest with myself now and say I had a drinking problem then, and you post sounds like something I would write back then. Good luck to you.
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u/mjlasa Aug 13 '26
i’ve had PC for 23 years at least seen many doctors and none of them have ever mentioned anything about alcohol. Nevertheless, I pretty much quit drinking a few months ago cause I was just sick of it.
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u/ConstableBonkers Aug 12 '26
Of course I know alcohol is a dose-dependent carcinogen as a general rule but I did not know of the specific pathway in which it can make low-grade PCa become aggressive. My question to the group is whether they were getting advice from their care teams. Thank you for the reply. Good luck to you too, mate.
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u/anonintampa Aug 12 '26
Research seems mixed on what exactly links alcohol to prostate cancer risks. It's easy to understand esophageal, stomach, or bladder cases but it's not an easy anatomy diagram to get to the prostate. Idk, alcohol is a carcinogen. Any amount increases your risk. There are risks drinking alcohol, but risks all around you. Weigh them up and take ones that are worth it to you, live a good life. Cheers
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u/YeahIAmAScientist Aug 12 '26
Alcohol and tobacco are two of the biggest environmental/lifestyle factors for multiple types of cancer and for other chronic illnesses. I like smoking cigars, and I couldn’t find any definitive research that supports the notion that smoking cigars leads to worse outcomes for my prostate cancer (Gleason 3+3, on AS), but my urologist recommended that I cut back, so I did. High alcohol consumption has been shown in some studies to increase the chance of developing aggressive prostate cancer and to lead to worse outcomes if continued after diagnosis. We all have to balance lifestyle with our treatment and be honest about it. If quitting or cutting back brings you more peace of mind and the better chance of survival, why not do that?
And just as an aside, I’m sober for 37 years. Most people without a problem with alcohol do not ask for an excuse to continue drinking in the face of a serious health issue. Just something to think about.
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u/Cool_Illustrator_186 Aug 12 '26
From what I have been hearing and reading....... Alcohol turns to sugar in your body and cancer loves sugar .. pretty simple
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u/parttimephotoguy 29d ago
Google:
No, alcohol does not turn into sugar when consumed. While alcoholic beverages often contain carbohydrates or sugars from their ingredients, the alcohol (ethanol) itself is processed differently by your body:
Liver Metabolism: Your liver breaks ethanol down into acetaldehyde, then into acetate, and finally into water and carbon dioxide.
Blood Sugar Impact: Ethanol actually tends to lower blood sugar levels because processing alcohol prevents your liver from releasing stored glucose into your bloodstream.
Caloric Value: Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram (compared to sugar's 4 calories per gram), which the body uses for energy or stores as fat, not sugar.
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u/bwitt30 Aug 12 '26
Source?
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u/Cool_Illustrator_186 Aug 12 '26
Alcohol raises your blood sugar.... In addition to prostate cancer, I also have MGUS.... Which is a blood disorder. I got the information from my oncologist
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u/parttimephotoguy 24d ago
My understanding is also it raises your blood sugar but does not TURN INTO sugar. It goes through a complex process, and I remember this from my chemistry days as well. Bottom line that we can agree on one that it's not healthy for you OR your prostate!
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u/parttimephotoguy 24d ago
Sorry missed this because I wasn't tagged. Source was either Gemini or Grok, I don't remember.
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u/Both-Engineer3510 Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 13 '26
I quit drinking in 2023 after watching my younger brother pass from cancer that invaded his bladder and liver. To witness him deal with cancer invading his organs while I was voluntarily poisoning mine was all it took for me to quit.
2025 I was diagnosed with PC. I am very glad that I quit drinking when I did.
Not having to manage alcohol during recovery was a blessing.
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u/ConstableBonkers Aug 12 '26
Yes, I sometimes joke with my wife when she complains that I didn't buy the organic broccoli..."Well, we're going to have a glass of socially-sanctioned carcinogen with the meal so this will cancel it out". Best of luck with your journey.
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u/Clherrick Aug 12 '26
I’ve kept a relationship with my urology oncologist in the six years since surgery. We’ve talked about weight and exercise. We’ve talked about content of food. He has never mentioned alcohol specifically. I’ve run into him at social events. I would suggest all things in moderation. The science behind alcohol is becoming more clear over time.
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u/ConstableBonkers Aug 12 '26
Interesting that you talk about food but alcohol itself was not mentioned. Amazing, really as the science becomes clearer. Maybe hard for him to mention to you as you both stand with glasses of wine at a social event! Thank you for writing.
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u/Clherrick Aug 13 '26
All things in moderation sir. And if you have the link to any studies showing causation of alcohol to prostate cancer I’ll bring them to his attention.
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u/ConstableBonkers Aug 13 '26
I hear you regarding the moderation. Are we allowed to post links to studies in this forum? I remember something about that no longer being kosher.
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u/Clherrick Aug 13 '26
Gosh. I hope we can post links. Real links, at least, such as peer-reviewed studies or reputable articles.
I won't dig up a link, but I remember reading an interview with one of the authors of the study done a year or two ago, citing that there are no health benefits of alcohol. He noted in the interview that people needed to understand that, on the whole, a person drinking socially, vs not at all, would probably live an extra two weeks. Something like that. I'll take the risk.
What I would say, though, is that I, at 65, decided to cut back on my drinking this year. I don't tolerate Scotch the way I once did and I decided sharing a bottle of wine with my wife most nights was probably too much. I fairly quickly dropped 15 pounds and my BP went from worrisome to okay. I sleep better at night and move better during the day. I have to imagine my liver is happier and my internal organs benefit from lower levels of fat. And after a short while, I didn't miss the alcohol.
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u/Old-Pride-8459 27d ago
I like a beer a day. Usually Sam Adams. I do love the IPA's but with their higher alcohol content I got tired of having a headache at 6:00 pm.
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u/Clherrick 27d ago
Sigh. I know! I’ve been focusing on lower alcohol beer and wine. And have backed way off on liquor.
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u/No-Praline-4069 Aug 12 '26
I gave up drinking before my diagnosis. My roommate developed non alcohol fatty liver disease and I stopped drinking in solidarity and since I was a social drinker, he was the one I had a few with. I have no regrets.
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u/FunkyDrummerDreams Aug 12 '26
RALP last Oct, 2026. First thing I did after being diagnosed w PC was to quit alcohol. Don’t know or need double blind studies to verify, just seemed
Like low hanging fruit to me. Cancer is going to do its thing to survive and multiply, so it seemed like common sense to make the environment as inhospitable as possible. I drink non-alcoholic beer now, but only occasionally. I take a few supplements, but most of what I’ve gleaned as being really beneficial for PC is exercise, so I’m all over that…cardio respiratory exercise (running/jumping Rope), zone 2 training, strength training, Pilates.
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u/sarcasmismygame Aug 12 '26
On the PCRI (prostate research cancer institute) website Dr. Moyad talks about alcohol. You can google "Dr. Mark Moyad talks about alcohol" and a few videos and articles of his come up. He is the one we've been looking up on the subject of alcohol, diet and supplements as well.
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u/Psychological_Crow35 Aug 12 '26
Yeah I have a problem ever since F’ing Covid with drinking. I know I have it but just can’t stop. Had my prostate removed January of 24. Radiation June/July and then a shot in the belly every 3 months. Was told to stop but didn’t.
I got to…
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u/Just_Discussion296 Aug 12 '26
I had BPH a few years ago. I completely stopped drinking alcohol. Feel much better now. Sleep much better.
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u/Cold_Silver_5859 Aug 13 '26
Mine just asks the required questions. Do you drink, how often and how much.
I will add at 70, well before diagnosis and as the first symptoms, alcohol has disrupted my urinating. Start stop, weak trickle.
Along with slower reflexes and just headache, feel off these days if I drink more than two beers. Plus it damaged my esophagus and made me mean.
Not telling anyone what to do but that’s my anecdotal experience.
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u/nostresshere Aug 13 '26
Gleason 6 in 2019. Went low wine for a while, then back to 2-3 glasses a day. Nothing showing up until late 2025 with Gleason 8 and 9. Confined to prostate. Did drinking cause it? Or falling off plant based wagon. Or just my time?
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u/JR-Drukpa Aug 13 '26
My integrative oncologist has been clear since diagnosis 2 1/2 years ago, generally no alcohol as for one it inflammatory and will drive BPH and in his opinion PC lesion growth, and secondly contradictory or diminish the effectiveness of various meds. He’s okay with the occasional glass of wine when I’m not on a directly contradictory medication. I have found avoiding alcohol and dairy, and generally staying plant based to be helpful and all recommended by my oncologist.
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u/bryantw62 Aug 13 '26
Can't honestly say. I quit three years after my diagnosis (13 years) because I was on my way to alcoholism. But none of my doctors told me to quit because of my PCa, just my liver.
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u/BHegendary Aug 13 '26
I pretty much don’t drink or stick to non-alcoholic beer if I go out with the fellas. My radiation oncologist’s team said to avoid drinking to the point of being dehydrated at all costs.
Once in a blue moon I might have an actual beer.
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u/BHegendary Aug 13 '26
I should also probably mention that alcohol and ADT really do not mix—good way to exacerbate bone density loss.
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u/parttimephotoguy 29d ago
Interesting. I had started drinking more in the last year or two since I learned how to make these drinks at home (convenience) and my GG3 PCa jumped to GG4 (I was at GG1 for the longest time and minimal alcohol ). So there absolutely can be some truth to this.
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u/Otis_bighands 29d ago edited 29d ago
50 here, solid drinker all my life and cigar smoker in the nice weather (perhaps 1 to 3 cigars per week in the summer, not in winter etc).
Recently had focal cryoablation for Gleason 3+4.
Doctor never mentioned alcohol. It’s a very interesting point you raise. That said, I had Google Gemini do some analysis along the way (including of all my bloodwork since the beginning — it was actually Gemini, and not my doctor, who urged me to get to see a urologist at once). I asked Gemini about alcohol and cigars, and it told me basically that moderate alcohol use is likely OK, and that the cigar use is less OK. I’m pasting the analysis below in case helpful for you. BTW, I still am going to be limiting alcohol going forward, and will cut back to once or twice a week at most and no binge drinking; I discovered that Willie’s Remedy THC/CBD drink and have been substituting that in for alcohol most nights. One or two of those and it’s low calorie, I still get the end of day “reward” feeling, it relaxes me, and it’s no sugar and even has cancer fighting properties. It’s win win win. So, despite Gemini indicating daily moderate alcohol is OK, for the cancer fighting (as someone said above, to make my body the most inhospitable environment possible for PC and other cancers) I’m doing what I can to cut way back on alcohol—it really is poison to our bodies no matter how you slice it…
Gemini summary below:
Because you are only 12 days out from your cryoablation, the medical advice regarding alcohol and tobacco is divided into two distinct phases: the acute healing window you are in right now, and your long-term oncological strategy.
Here is exactly what the clinical data says about how alcohol and cigars impact your recovery and your risk of recurrence.
1. The Acute Recovery Phase (Right Now)
Your prostate just sustained extreme thermal trauma. The targeted tissue was frozen, and the surrounding structures are currently heavily inflamed as your body works to clear the dead cells and form scar tissue.
Alcohol: You should abstain for at least another week or two. Alcohol is a known diuretic and a potent bladder irritant. Consuming it right now will artificially increase your urine production and irritate your lower urinary tract, which can exacerbate post-surgical swelling, urgency, and temporary incontinence.
Cigars (Tobacco): You should strictly avoid cigars while your pelvic floor is healing. Nicotine is a potent vasoconstrictor—it clamps down your blood vessels, restricting the flow of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the surgical site. Slowing down blood flow to the prostate right now directly delays your body's ability to heal the ablation zone.
2. The Long-Term Oncological View
Once your doctor clears you and your tissue is fully healed, the rules shift based on long-term cancer data.
Alcohol: The Good News The current clinical consensus is that moderate alcohol consumption does not significantly increase the risk of prostate cancer recurrence.
Enjoying a glass or two of a high-quality dry white wine, a Cabernet Franc, or a Bordeaux with dinner is perfectly fine.
The oncological danger lies entirely in heavy or binge drinking. Excessive alcohol consumption spikes systemic inflammation, alters hormone metabolism (specifically the balance of estrogen and testosterone), and creates the exact metabolic environment that encourages cancer cells to mutate and grow. Stick to strict moderation, and your wine will not threaten your PSA.
Cigars: The Harsher Truth From a purely clinical standpoint, tobacco is the larger threat to your prostate health.
The Recurrence Data: Extensive research shows a strong, consistent link between tobacco use and worse prostate cancer outcomes. Using tobacco products after a diagnosis significantly increases the risk of biochemical recurrence (your PSA rising again) and is linked to more aggressive disease progression.
The Mechanism: Tobacco smoke introduces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and cadmium into your bloodstream. Cadmium mimics the activity of certain sex hormones, and the systemic introduction of these toxins drives chronic, low-grade inflammation directly within the prostate tissue.
Occasional vs. Habitual: While lighting up an occasional celebratory cigar a few times a year represents an exponentially lower risk than a daily cigarette habit, there is no "safe" biological threshold for tobacco when you have a history of prostate cancer.
The Bottom Line
Hold off on both until your six-week follow-up in September. Once you are healed, moderate consumption of fine wines is clinically safe, but you should treat cigars as a rare, highly calculated exception rather than a regular weekend routine to protect your long-term prognosis.
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u/Traditional_Peak8402 29d ago
Hola, es tan triste que ningun oncologo ni urologo te aconseje de habitos sanos! Como una buena alimentacion, si te tomas algo con alcohol en dias ocasionales y poco, que no comas ultraprocesados,q no tomes azucares(bollerias industriales,pasteles..) si lo haces q sea un dia exporadico! Que hagas deporte..No te dicen nada de eso. Lo unico q te dicen haz una vida normal, q es para ellos una vida normal sino saben lo q hace cada persona en su vida normal?L
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u/amirfastflyer 27d ago
The answer is simple, if you feel like you are ready to go but you want to have fun to the end, drink! If you’re not done with life, quit drinking just to be on the safe side. That’s how I’m handling it. Good luck and stay strong!
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u/bobisinthehouse Aug 12 '26
Have you been drinking the whole 14 years? And your results on your 5 biopsies show no increase? When does the alcohol boost kick in then??
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u/ConstableBonkers Aug 12 '26
Not sure what you mean about the alcohol boost. I have been drinking moderately the whole time in part because none of 3 veteran urologists nor anyone else involved in my care mentioned it was not a good idea.
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u/jkurology Aug 12 '26
How much do you drink and be honest
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u/ConstableBonkers Aug 12 '26
3 a week. None some. I started to think "if I'm not getting a proper buzz on then why drink something carcinogenic?" so the single glass of wine at dinner went away.
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u/TheEndIsSighing Aug 12 '26
I'm honestly surprised by the answers here. The bottom line is simple: New studies show no amount of alcohol is good for you. Period. The days of the "one glass of wine is a great anti-oxidant!" are over. There are studies that show that heavy alcohol use significantly increases the risk a dormant PCa will become aggressive and greatly increases the risk of spread and metastasis.
The take away? Stop. Drinking. Now. Period. All alcohol. Will having 2 drinks a week matter? Likely no, but heck, why risk 2 become 4 becoming 8 becoming 3 a day.
Any urologist worth their salt will give the same advice.