What is the direct effect of heavy consumption of alcohol (alcoholism) and the chemotherapy drug carboplatin.?

[Susan S]

My family member was diagnosed with larynx cancer (stage IV) and has completed the intensive chemotherapy round, and is going to be starting radiation with chemotherapy. Luckily he is doing well with the treatment and his tumor has shrunk. With all I know about this type of cancer and what was told to me by drs, I understand that this cancer was caused primarily because he smoked and drank heavily. He has stopped smoking, but is still in denial about the alcohol and refused to stop (he has been in treatment twice over the last 20 years, recently 5 years ago). Without using a crystal ball what are his chances after all treatment is complete and is expected to come out "cancer free" of a recurrance of this type of cancer, or another type of cancer? And what needs to be done to test his liver and heart after the effects of the chemo/radiation and alcohol consumption?

[tinmuning]

Technically, there are no adverse interactions with alcohol & carboplatin (as per drugs.com). However, we all know the deleterious effect of long term alcohol consumption to the liver. Also some drug products can cause drowsiness and may affect activities such as driving, taking alcohol would increase the drowsiness effect of the meds.

As for the liver and heart test, better ask the doctor so he can make accurate recommendations. Some of the most common tests for liver damage are aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT). These enzymes are normally contained within liver cells. If the liver is injured, the liver cells spill the enzymes into blood, raising the enzyme levels in the blood and signaling the liver damage. As for the heart, there are a lot of cardio tests that can be done such as stress test, ECG, angiogram (to detect blockage in heart arteries), etc.

[Susan S]

From a caretaker and family member point of view it game me some of the answers I was looking for, and it also gave me another internet link to follow up with. Thank you for your response.