Chemo and radiation therapy and alcoholism?

[Anewoneforme]

I know I'm not being given all the information but someone I know who I may well end supporting has terminal cancer. Apparently they have been told they cannot continue drinking in the way they do and have treatment. They are unwilling/unable to give up the alcohol.
Any ideas if this is true that you cannot drink with treatment and if so any ideas what I can do to support?

Can anyone talk to me about this? Ultimately I suppose if they can't stop drinking they can't have treatment? Has anyone experienced this ?

If they are already terminal surely it's their right to decide whether or not to undertake any more treatment. And that being so then perhaps they prefer to live out what is rest of their lives in the way they enjoy and see fit?

Yes I suppose so. But they'd have an awful lot more to enjoy if they could have treatment. But yes as you say their choice.
Will they be able to access pain management and other end of life care AND abuse alcohol? I suppose that will hasten it even more?

Its not a great idea to drink with chemo, and someone with poor liver function from alcohol may not be able to tolerate all or any of the chemo. Radiotherapy shouldn't be affected by alcohol use.

I'm sorry you are facing this, alongside the challenges of supporting someone who is alcohol dependent and all that brings

Do you know the reasons behind this OP?

Could it be that the specific chemo the patient needs is incompatible with alcohol so there’s no point trying it if they won’t commit to stop drinking?

I would imagine it would have to be something along those lines TBH. Or actual health reasons rather than judgment. My mum had many rounds of chemo, and had to be strictly physically fit enough to commence each one. Chemo can be very harrowing, maybe the concern is somebody still using high levels of alcohol will never be fit enough to start. Certain blood levels for example have to be within set limits.

Thank you CMOT (all hail the late great Sir TP)
I know I shouldn't be feeling this but I'm so fucking angry with them. Angry for wasting half their life on alcohol and now doubly angry that they won't quit to treble their life expectancy and maybe have some alcohol free time with us. I'm angry that once again even at the end, alcohol comes first.
And I'm angry at myself for being so selfish for thinking that.

They absolutely will receive end of life care OP.

All the information I get is being relayed through an alcoholic. So incomplete and sometimes just plain wrong. So no I don't know the reasons. I was just told they were told they couldn't drink at current levels and get treatment, so they don't want the treatment.

coffee thank you. I've been worrying so much about that.

Chemo does affect the liver, I ended up with a fatty liver after mine, so probably not a good idea to drink heavily while undergoing chemo. I should imagine it could hasten liver failure?

My dad was a functioning alcoholic when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I don't think the doctors were aware of this! But after initially hitting the booze hard to self medicate for the pain and stress I think, he found towards the end he simply couldn't drink any alcohol at all and didn't miss it. Actually some of my best memories were when he stopped drinking as even though he was very poorly, he was back to being the dad I loved and we had lots of amazing chats and just watched tv together, read books etc. Do you might find this problem goes away as I think the medication makes alcohol pretty unpalatable.

Sorry to hear about your dad glad you got him back for a bit at the end though.
That's very interesting, maybe! Thank you x