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Drinking Alcohol After Prostate Surgery

Problems After High Intensity Focused Ultrasound

Can I drink alcohol after having surgery?

Youre more likely to get urinary problems after HIFU if youve already had other treatments for prostate cancer. Possible urinary problems include:

  • difficulty urinating
  • urine infections.

Difficulty urinating

HIFU usually causes the prostate to swell for a week or two, so youll have a catheter to drain urine from your bladder until the swelling has gone. HIFU can also cause the urethra to become narrow, making it difficult to empty your bladder .

Leaking urine

HIFU can cause some men to leak urine when they cough, sneeze or exercise . This may be more likely if youve already had radiotherapy. There are ways to manage leaking urine.

Urine infections

Some men get a urine infection after HIFU. If this happens, youll be given a course of antibiotics to clear the infection.

Read more about urine infections in our fact sheet, Urinary problems after prostate cancer treatment.

So What Are The Key Points You Should Take Away From This

  • Alcohol plays a contributing role in worsening the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate
  • Follow Canadian Guidelines for alcohol consumption no more than 15 drinks a week. This includes defining what a ‘drink’ actually is:
  • 5oz of wine
  • 1.5oz of liquor
  • 12oz or beer, ciders, or coolers
  • If you struggle with ways to reduce your alcohol intake, consider having a discussion with your primary care provider or reaching out to local services.
  • Consider swapping out some animal protein for plant proteins
  • Add saw palmetto to your daily regiment
  • One Month After Prostate Surgery Good News And Bad News

    I am 56 years old and I just had a prostatectomy nerve sparing hopefully. Incontinence looks like it won’t be an issue at all now thank God. However down below there is absolutely no reaction and I fear no hope and that scares me to death. It is deader than dead and shorter I might add , all of this I had knowledge of beforehand as a possibility but of course I was hoping that it would not happen to me. My question to anybody out there in this forum would be … is there anyone with similar experience as me and similar age with some sort of timetable of successfully regaining sexual function. I need something to hold onto. I need hope

    0 likes, 109 replies

  • 5 years ago

    Hi Mark,

    Well so far so good. PCa, Tick, Incontinence, Tick. Now from what I see here on this forum and others, the last item on our wish lists is sexual function return. It seems to return often much later on, 3-6-12 months. Maybe with a bit of viagra etc to get things working, then hopefully, solo.

    Geoff

  • 5 years ago

    Geoff,

    could you please elaborate with your experience on incontinece and how bad it was? Did you do kegel excercise before surgery? How long ago did you have your prostate removed? What was your recovery experience?

    I am 51 and scheduled for surgery on 11/2.

    Thank you,

  • Posted 5 years ago

    Prostate infection and prostatitis can trigger PSA numbers going up. That is what I thought about my numbers. My MRI showed a tumor . You may need to have a semen culture to see if you have an active infection.

  • Also Check: Digital Examination Of The Prostate

    Can People’s Genes Affect Their Risk Of Alcohol

    A personâs risk of alcohol-related cancers is influenced by their genes, specifically the genes that encode enzymes involved in metabolizing alcohol .

    For example, one way the body metabolizes alcohol is through the activity of an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase, or ADH, which converts ethanol into the carcinogenic metabolite acetaldehyde, mainly in the liver. Recent evidence suggests that acetaldehyde production also occurs in the oral cavity and may be influenced by factors such as the oral microbiome .

    Many individuals of East Asian descent carry a version of the gene for ADH that codes for a “superactive” form of the enzyme. This superactive ADH enzyme speeds the conversion of alcohol to toxic acetaldehyde. Among people of Japanese descent, those who have this form of ADH have a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than those with the more common form of ADH .

    Another enzyme, called aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 , metabolizes toxic acetaldehyde to non-toxic substances. Some people, particularly those of East Asian descent, carry a variant of the gene for ALDH2 that encodes a defective form of the enzyme. In people who produce the defective enzyme, acetaldehyde builds up when they drink alcohol. The accumulation of acetaldehyde has such unpleasant effects that most people who have inherited the ALDH2 variant are unable to consume large amounts of alcohol and therefore have a low risk of developing alcohol-related cancers.

    How Will Prostate Surgery Affect My Sex Life

    Prostate / Prostate Cancer

    Experienced robotic surgeons like Dr. David Samadi dont open the endopelvic fascia during surgery, which spares the rick of damage to nerve bundles that control sexual function. The recovery of the function, however, is not immediate and you should not feel discouraged if weeks or even a few months after surgery you experience erectile dysfunction. It is not an indication of long-term damage.

    One major change that you will notice in your sex life is the absence of sperm. Having no prostate, the body will not produce semen during the orgasm. The sperm cells will be simply reabsorbed by the body them. This is not harmful and you shouldnt be worried about it. Plenty of men deal with the problem with the help of medication that improves erectile dysfunction.

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    Problems After Prostate Cancer Treatment

    Many men get urinary problems as a side effect of their treatment. This is because prostate cancer treatment can damage the nerves and muscles that control when you urinate .

    If youre starting treatment for prostate cancer, ask your doctor about the possible side effects. Each treatment can cause different urinary problems. Your chances of getting each side effect will depend on the treatment youre having, and on whether or not you had urinary problems before starting treatment.

    If youve already had prostate cancer treatment and you have urinary problems, tell your doctor or nurse. They can suggest treatments and lifestyle changes to help manage them.

    Depending on the type of problems youre having, ways to manage them can include lifestyle changes, pelvic floor muscle exercises, bladder retraining, medicines or surgery. For practical tips read our How to manage urinary problems guide.

    Watch Paul’s story below for one man’s experience of managing urinary problems after prostate cancer treatment.

    Prostate Cancer And Alcohol: What We Need To Know

    Categories:Cancer Risk,Cancer Screening,Prostate Cancer

    May 22, 2020

    It has been established by cancer researchers that alcohol is a risk factor for many types of cancers. What may not be that well known is the fact that alcohol is not a risk factor, maybe even be a risk reducer for other types cancers. So how does alcohol specifically affect prostate cancer? This blog is going to take a look at the relation between alcohol consumption and prostate cancer.

    Recommended Reading: What Does It Mean When Your Prostate Is Enlarged

    Foods Linked To Prostate Cancer

    American men get prostate cancer more often now than they did in the past. Why?

    To see if diet plays a role, Jan L. Colli, MD, and colleagues at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, compared changes in the American diet with changes in prostate cancer over the 71 years between 1930 and 2000.

    Overall, the foods linked to prostate cancer were red meat, added fats and oils, ice cream, margarine, salad/cooking oil, and vegetable shortening.

    “This country shifted from animal fats and went to vegetable fats because we thought this would be better for the heart,” Colli said, at a news conference. “That never panned out. And now it seems it might be worse for prostate cancer.”

    Are There Any Other Beverages Or Foods I Should Steer Clear Of Or Add To My Diet

    Can I drink alcohol, caffeine, or carbonated beverages after Bariatric Surgery?

    Any other diuretics can stimulate the tissues of an already overactive bladder, including coffee and tea. While increasing fluid intake can help against lower UTI’s as it flushes the system out, it’s important to strike a balance where it doesn’t increase your urinary frequency too much when you’re already suffering from BPH.

    Green tea has been shown to have benefits that protects against BPH due to its anti-inflammatory properties. In a blend with black tea, it was shown to increase the flow rate of urine, improve one’s sexual function and quality of life.

    High-protein diets sourced mainly from animal proteins can also increase your risk of developing an enlarged prostate, so considering plant-based proteins may reduce your risk. Foods worth considering include those rich in lycopene, such as tomatoes, an antioxidant that helps with prostate health due to the high concentration of this substance in prostate tissues. Studies have shown it has the ability to slow the progression of BPH and improve symptoms as per the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire. A prospective cohort study demonstrated that those who consumed more tomato products, including sauce, experienced a 23% reduced risk of developing prostate cancer.

    Recommended Reading: Is Stage 3 Prostate Cancer Curable

    What Happens To Cancer Risk After A Person Stops Drinking Alcohol

    Most of the studies that have examined whether cancer risk declines after a person stops drinking alcohol have focused on head and neck cancers and on esophageal cancer. In general, these studies have found that stopping alcohol consumption is not associated with immediate reductions in cancer risk. The cancer risks eventually decline, although it may take years for the risks of cancer to return to those of never drinkers.

    For example, ex-drinkers still had higher risks of oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers than never drinkers even 16 years after they stopped drinking alcohol, although it was lower than before they stopped drinking . One study estimated that it would take more than 35 years for the higher risks of laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers associated with alcohol consumption to decrease to the level of never drinkers .

    Is Walking Good After Prostate Surgery

    Once you are ready, you should sit up and walk a few steps. Early walking is the key for fast recovery and return to bowel activity. It also improves blood circulation in the legs and prevents clot formation. The best way to a speedy recovery is to start walking the hallways on the day after surgery .

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    How Does The Combination Of Alcohol And Tobacco Affect Cancer Risk

    Epidemiologic research shows that people who use both alcohol and tobacco have much greater risks of developing cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx , larynx, and esophagus than people who use either alcohol or tobacco alone. In fact, for oral and pharyngeal cancers, the risks associated with using both alcohol and tobacco are multiplicative that is, they are greater than would be expected from adding the individual risks associated with alcohol and tobacco together .

    Alcohol And The Prostate Gland: Friend Or Foe

    Can You Drink Alcohol After Bariatric Surgery

    Studies show moderate alcohol intake has surprising links to prostate disease.

    Dr. Parsons is professor of urology, division of urologic oncology, department of urology, Moores UCSD Comprehensive Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA.

    Patients have become voracious consumers of the medical literature. Each week, a flurry of new urology studies surface in the popular media to feed public interest. Many of the high-profile articles focus on prostate disease and lifestyle factors. Popular topics include associations of prostate cancer and BPH with diet, exercise, vitamins, and supplements. Many present contradictory results all have the potential to provoke anxiety and/or confusion among our patients.

    A recurring topic is alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption is, of course, unhealthy and should be discouraged. But what about moderate alcohol intake, such as a glass of red wine each day? Is moderate alcohol intake beneficial or harmful to the prostate, or neither?

    Numerous observational studies have addressed this question with respect to prostate cancer, BPH, and lower urinary tract symptoms . Here are some take-aways .

    Prostate cancer

    For prostate cancer, the answer appears to be: neither.

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    Low Carb + High Fat = Less Prostate Cancer

    The high rate of prostate cancercancer in North America is linked to the high fat content of the typical American and Canadian man’s diet.

    Critics have blamed low-carb, weight lossweight loss diets for encouraging consumption of foods with high-fat content. Are these diets really so bad? No — at least when it comes to prostate cancer, suggest Vasundara Venkateswaran, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

    Venkateswaran’s team grafted human prostate cancers onto mice. They then fed some of the mice a low-carb/high-fat diet. Other mice got a high-carb/high-fat diet.

    The animals on the low-carb diet lost weight. And despite the high-fat content of their meals, the animals’ prostate tumors grew slower than those in the animals on a high-carb diet. It appears that the low-carb diet lowered the animal’s insulin levels, thereby slowing tumor growth.

    “A low-carb/high-fat diet, in addition to helping people lose weight, may play a role in decreasing the risk of prostate cancer,” Venkateswaran said, at a news conference. “Now clinical trials have to be done.”

    What Changes Do I Need To Make To My Diet

    Discuss your post-surgery diet with your doctor as you will probably want to avoid or at least minimize issues such as constipation. The lack of exercise, the medication, even the stress, might affect your bowel functions. Your diet will be focused on eating more vegetables, fruits, grains and avoiding meat, especially the red one, pasta, alcohol, fast-food, sugar and processed desserts.

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    Assessment Of Alcohol Consumption And Other Risk Factors

    To assess alcohol consumption in 1988, we asked alumni to report their intake of wine, beer, and liquor by responding to the question, How many servings of the following foods do you eat? We assumed that one serving was equivalent to one unit of alcohol. Seven responses were possible for each alcoholic beverage, including almost never, 13 per month, 12 per week, 36 per week, 12 per day, 35 per day, and 6+ per day. We estimated total alcohol consumption by summing wine, beer, and liquor intake using the midpoints of the first six responses and a conservative midpoint estimate for the seventh response . Based on the distribution of total and beverage-specific intake, we a priori collapsed the seven categories into five categories of intake: almost never, 1/month to < 3/week, 3/week to < 1/day, 1 to < 3/day, and 3/day. Self-reports of alcohol intake using food frequency questions are reasonably reliable and valid, as indicated by previous studies of male health professionals and population-based groups. Total alcohol consumption on the 1977 questionnaire was calculated in an identical manner as done for the 1988 questionnaire, summing intake from wine, beer and liquor. Alcohol consumption from the college physical exam was measured from an overall question without regard to specific beverage intakes.

    Can Drinking Red Wine Help Prevent Cancer

    Alcohol & Prostate Health

    The plant secondary compound resveratrol, found in grapes used to make red wine and some other plants, has been investigated for many possible health effects, including cancer prevention. However, researchers have found no association between moderate consumption of red wine and the risk of developing prostate cancer or colorectal cancer .

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    Where Can I Find Prostate Cancer Support Groups

    Even though once you complete the surgery you most likely will find yourself cancer-free, the anxiety and stress may never totally go away. The support of your friends and family is essential in these moments, but the most relief you will find is among people that have gone through the same experience.

    We advise you to search locally for prostate cancer or cancer survivors support groups and discuss your journey in beating this. You will find there plenty of people that lived through the same emotions and painful experiences and you will gather your strength to overcome this and not let it define the rest of your life.

    If physical presence is not an option for you, there are plenty of forums and online communities that gather around this subject. You can find people that share their experiences and advice below:

    • https://www.cancerforums.net/forums/14-Prostate-Cancer-Forum
    • http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/
    • http://www.topix.com/forum/health/prostate-cancer

    Prostate cancer surgery is not as severe of a surgery as other ones. The recovery, especially after robotic surgery, usually lasts up to 2 to 3 weeks and patients can return to work and to living their normal lives.

    Alcohol Doesnt Mix With Medication

    Following your procedure, you may be given pain medication or even antibiotics. Alcohol can not only reduce the effectiveness of these medications but can also result in dangerous side effects, such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, fainting, loss of coordination, breathing difficulty or even heart problems. Make sure you are finished taking any medication before you decide to start consuming alcohol again.

    Also Check: How To Fix A Swollen Prostate

    How Fast Will I Become Totally Continent After Prostate Surgery

    During surgery for prostate cancer, the urethra is also affected and, depending on the experience of the surgeon, more or less of the continence function will be preserved. Due to the high precision of robotic surgery, the patient will have a catheter for roughly one week and the trauma to the urinary function will be minimum.

    The discomfort that patients feel during this time is minimum, but you should expect the removal to make you feel uneasy. The catheter will be removed during a visit to your doctor, so do not try to do this at home, as it could cause infections. The degree of which the urinary function will be affected depends on how normal the function was before surgery, age and weight.

    It is worth noting that most men will experience some degree of incontinence after prostate surgery, but control can be regained within several weeks or months to a year.

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