4c. Alcohol and Cancer Treatment

If you are currently in treatment for cancer, should you still drink alcohol or stay away from it completely? While there is little evidence to suggest that alcohol increases the risk of getting the same cancer again after recovery, there are still concerns to watch out for if you decide to drink during treatment. 

Risks of Alcohol Use During Cancer Treatment

Use the flip cards to learn more.

Chemotherapy

  • Alcohol can worsen the side effects of chemotherapy treatment
  • These side effects can include nausea, dehydration, and mouth sores

Drugs

  • Other cancer treatments, such as drugs, can come with their own harmful side effects
  • Alcohol can also make these side effects much worse

New Cancer

  • Some evidence suggests that drinking alcohol can increase the risk of developing a brand new type of cancer
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