Can You Drink Alcohol With Ovarian Cancer?

Note: While research on alcohol is evolving, the World Health Organization says drinking less or not at all is better for your health.

How Alcohol Affects Ovarian Cancer

“So while we can’t say ‘alcohol will make your ovarian cancer spread,’ it may work against some of the things your body and your treatments are trying to do,” Dr. Kahn says.

Does Alcohol Interact With Ovarian Cancer Treatment?

Alcohol can interact with many ovarian cancer treatments; the recommendation is to avoid it during active phases of care, including before surgery, during chemotherapy, and while on maintenance therapy, says Ami Vaidya, MD, a gynecologic oncologist and co-chief of the division of gynecologic oncology at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.

Before Surgery

During Treatment

It’s also recommended to avoid alcohol during active treatment, Vaidya says.

Similarly, targeted treatments, including poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, such as olaparib (Lynparza) and niraparib (Zejula), can put stress on the liver, and drinking alcohol can worsen this effect, says Vaidya.

The drugs used to manage treatment side effects, including pain medicines, sleep medications, and certain nausea medications, may also interact with alcohol, Brunette says. For these reasons, it’s best to avoid alcohol during active treatment, and to check with your oncology team before drinking, even if the amount feels small.

After Treatment

Once you’ve completed treatment and move into surveillance, meaning regular medical checkups to monitor for signs that the cancer has returned, Kahn says an occasional drink is generally considered lower risk than it is during active treatment.

The focus in this phase is reducing the risk of recurrence and second cancers, says Vaidya, and drinking becomes a more personal decision that depends on your health, preferences, and quality of life. But it should still be discussed with your oncologist. Bear in mind that “from a cancer-risk perspective, no amount of alcohol is considered completely safe,” she says.

If you do choose to drink after treatment, it should be in strict moderation, Vaidya says, and no more than one drink on any given day, and not every day.

Drinking alcohol after ovarian cancer treatment may still not be appropriate for everyone. Brunette says people with abnormal liver tests, lingering side effects, or who are taking medications that can interact with alcohol may need to continue avoiding it.

Are Some Alcoholic Drinks Safer for Ovarian Cancer Than Others?

Alcohol isn’t something oncologists recommend, says Kahn, who also recognizes that some people will choose an occasional drink. If that’s the case, he offers these general pointers.

• Choose light or low-alcohol beer, which may contain less ethanol per serving, though the carbonation may worsen bloating.
• Opt for a small glass of wine, about 5 ounces (oz) — which is considered a standard drink — or less, to keep your intake to a minimum; some people find white wine easier on the stomach than red wine.
• Try a wine spritzer, made by diluting wine with water. Since sparkling water can add to bloating, use still water instead, or skip the spritzer if carbonation bothers you.

Safe Drinking Practices for People With Ovarian Cancer

Even if your oncology team has previously said an occasional drink is okay, check with them again whenever your treatment, medications, laboratory results, or health changes, says Vaidya. She also recommends being honest about how much and how often you drink so your care team can give you advice based on your complete health picture.

If your oncology team says you can drink occasionally:

• Keep your serving to no more than one standard drink on any day you drink, Kahn says. A standard drink is about 12 oz of regular beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (about one “shot”).

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• Plan several days each week when you don’t drink any alcohol, notes Kahn.
• Avoid binge drinking. For women, this generally means having four or more drinks within about two hours.

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• Avoid sugary cocktails, which may add to nausea or digestive discomfort, Kahn says.
• Do not drink on the day of a chemotherapy infusion.

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• Avoid alcohol on an empty stomach, drink it slowly with food, says Vaidya, and don’t drink when you feel sick or more tired than usual.
• Drink plenty of water before, during, and after having alcohol to help prevent dehydration, Kahn says.

Cancer treatment can change how your body responds to alcohol, Brunette says, so a drink you tolerated well before diagnosis may affect you differently during or after treatment. Stop drinking and contact your care team if you develop increased nausea, unusual fatigue, worsening neuropathy, or yellowing of your skin or eyes, which may be signs of a liver problem, says Kahn.

Talk to your oncology team if you need help cutting back on alcohol or quitting. You can also reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357) for resources near you.