My Son-In-Law Got Cancer of the Esophagus from Drinking Alcohol

[Mitch86]

My son-in-law, who is 64 years old, got cancer of the esophagus by drinking alcohol. He drinks at every meal along with my daughter. How do I prevail on him to stop drinking? He already had his esophagus removed surgically. He still insists on drinking and will probably die from this habit.

I believe that nicotine and alcohol are the biggest causes of death from substances. I think both should be banned.

I never drank alcohol and never smoked nicotine. So far I've made it to age 90 without any serious illnesses. I am sure, if I had smoked nicotine or drank alcohol I would have died in my 60's or 70's.

My father drank alcohol regularly. He died at age 72. My grandfather smoked nicotine and drank alcohol and died at age 68.

 

[SeaBreeze]

I wish him the best, the final decision to stop will be up to him. I hope his wife is supportive and helps him.

 

[Warrigal]

@Mitch, when I was young I did not smoke or drink alcohol. In my twenties I began to drink socially but within 10 years I was addicted. It was challenging but I shook the addiction with help from AA.

As a teacher I would include health warnings to my students about the long term adverse affects of nicotine and alcohol on various organs of the body, including the corrosive affects of alcohol that were the direct cause of cancers of the gut, pancreas and kidneys.

All of this has been well known for some 50 years but mostly ignored. Save your breath because your son in law is not willing to hear you. It's sad, but he is a grown man in charge of his own life and destiny.

 

[hollydolly]

My son-in-law, who is 64 years old, got cancer of the esophagus by drinking alcohol. He drinks at every meal along with my daughter. How do I prevail on him to stop drinking? He already had his esophagus removed surgically. He still insists on drinking and will probably die from this habit.

I believe that nicotine and alcohol are the biggest causes of death from substances. I think both should be banned.

I never drank alcohol and never smoked nicotine. So far I've made it to age 90 without any serious illnesses. I am sure, if I had smoked nicotine or drank alcohol I would have died in my 60's or 70's.

My father drank alcohol regularly. He died at age 72. My grandfather smoked nicotine and drank alcohol and died at age 68.

....but my great grandfather smoked and drank and got run over by a bus walking on the pavement when he was 94... so not everyone who drinks and smoked will die early..

However in your s-i-l's case, he's 64 already almost a pensioner.. he's already had sugical intervention and it hasn't changed his way, he knows the pain nd agony he went thrguh , but the love of the effect of alcohol is too strong, and it's likely he can't face the world without it.. it's very sad, tragic, and awful for his family to watch, but it's his life and his choice unfortunately ..when they're as addicted as he is, the bottle comes before anything and anyone...
I know of which I speak I have one member of my family in a similar situation.. also in their 60's

 

[January]

is him stopping drinking now going to change anything though? - sounds like the horse has already bolted

Banning things doesnt work - America tried that with Prohibition, didnt work, just pushes things into a black market.

Alcohol in moderation is not a health risk either.

 

[smiley]

is his wife still alive??

 

[Aunt Bea]

Say your piece, offer your support, and let it go.

I’m sure that he is aware of his problem, nagging and fussing is only likely to drive a wedge between the two of you.

 

[January]

is his wife still alive??

isnt OP's daughter his wife? She is mentioned in first line of OP

 

[horseless carriage]

....but my great grandfather smoked and drank and got run over by a bus walking on the pavement when he was 94... so not everyone who drinks and smoked will die early..

Good point Holly, Winston Churchill smoked twenty cigars a day, drank copious amounts of whisky and brandy and had just about the most stressfull job imaginable when he led the UK through WW2, yet he lived to the age of 90.
I do, however, take Mitch's point, alcohol and nicotine being readily available, doesn't mean that they are not either harmful or addictive. My wife and I indulge in neither, our home has no pungent stale tobacco smell, nor do we have mountains of empty wine bottles for disposal.

 

[hollydolly]

Good point Holly, Winston Churchill smoked twenty cigars a day, drank copious amounts of whisky and brandy and had just about the most stressfull job imaginable when he led the UK through WW2, yet he lived to the age of 90.
I do, however, take Mitch's point, alcohol and nicotine being readily available, doesn't mean that they are not either harmful or addictive. My wife and I indulge in neither, our home has no pungent stale tobacco smell, nor do we have mountains of empty wine bottles for disposal.

Me neither... and as my husband smoked ( vaped) and drank... this last few years since he's been gone, I'm very happy to have no smell of alcohol or vaping in my house...

 

[MACKTEXAS]

How do I prevail on him to stop drinking? He already had his esophagus removed surgically. He still insists on drinking and will probably die from this habit.

He already knows. Some are crying for attention, even if it's negative. Say nothing.