The American Association for Cancer Research has found that excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing cancer. Alcohol is toxic to human cells and can lead to chronic inflammation, which is a known risk factor for cancer development. Alcohol consumption alters the gut microbiome, which also contributes to cancer risk.
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According to Experts like Dr. Céline Gounder, Alcohol Intake is Connected to Six Types of Cancer:
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Liver cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Head and neck cancers
- Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Dr. Gounder defines excessive levels of alcohol as three or more drinks per day for women and four or more drinks per day for men.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a standard drink contains 14 grams of pure alcohol. This is equivalent to,
- 12 ounces of beer
- 5 ounces of wine
- 1.5 ounces (a shot) of 80-proof distilled spirits
While these figures give a guideline, experts agree that there may be no safe amount of alcohol. This is true for individuals with underlying health conditions.
Dr. Gounder advises that people who do not drink should not start and those who do drink should aim to limit their consumption to reduce cancer risk.
Alcohol is toxic to the human body and can negatively affect multiple organs, according to Dr. Angela Tatiana Alistar, a medical expert in gastrointestinal oncology. Beyond its link to cancer, excessive alcohol intake can cause:
- Acute liver disease (hepatitis)
- Chronic liver conditions such as cirrhosis
- Liver cancer
- Brain dysfunction, affecting cognition, coordination, emotional regulation, and the sleep-wake cycle
- Chronic alcohol use may also lead to dependence, which can negatively impact mental health, social functioning, and relationships.
While some studies suggest moderate wine consumption particularly red wine, might offer health benefits such as reduced mortality and heart disease, experts caution that these benefits do not outweigh the risks especially when it comes to cancer.
Dr. Amy Commander, a breast cancer specialist addresses that red wine is still alcohol and therefore contributes to cancer risk. Commander advises people to remain mindful of their alcohol intake regardless of the type of alcoholic beverage.
Many people believe that everything causes cancer and might feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of factors linked to cancer. However, while it’s true that cancer is influenced by many variables.
For instance, the overall cancer death rate has dropped by 33% between 1991 and 2021. Alcohol, however, remains a modifiable risk factor and reducing alcohol consumption could lead to an 8% reduction in alcohol-related cancer cases and a 4% decrease in overall cancer risk.
In 2019, 5.4% of cancer cases in the United States were directly attributed to alcohol consumption. Early-age drinking also increases the lifetime risk of developing cancer.
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A survey conducted by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center found that 51% of respondents did not associate alcohol use with cancer risks such as colon cancer. Most identified family history as a major risk factor instead.
The 2024 Cancer Progress Report reveals that people who reduce their alcohol consumption or quit entirely can reduce their risk of developing alcohol-related cancers by 8%. Cutting back on drinking can also decrease the risk of all types of cancer by 4%.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 recommend that women limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day and men to two drinks per day. Exceeding these amounts increases the risk of cancer.
According to the AACR, more than half of Americans (51%) are unaware that drinking alcohol increases cancer risk. Dr. Scioli states that public messaging around alcohol’s dangers needs to improve especially given that 29 million Americans met the criteria for alcohol use disorder in 2023.
While reducing alcohol is important, there are several other lifestyle changes individuals can make to reduce their cancer risk. Modifiable risk factors account for over 40% of all cancer deaths. These include:
- Smoking cessation
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Increasing physical activity
- Improving diet
Binge drinking has increased among adults especially among women in recent years. This increase is correlated with a rise in certain types of cancers including early-onset breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
Cancer-specific warning labels on alcoholic beverages could help inform consumers about the potential dangers of excessive drinking much like the warning labels seen on tobacco products.
Implementing price increases or additional taxes on alcohol could serve as a deterrent, making it less accessible especially for younger individuals.
Although there was once a belief that light to moderate drinking might have health benefits (e.g., a glass of wine a day), newer research indicates that no amount of alcohol is truly safe.
Even small amounts of alcohol consumption can increase cancer risk for breast cancer. For example, women who consume three drinks per week have a 15% higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who don’t drink at all. Each additional drink further increases this risk by 10%.
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