According to research, all types of alcoholic beverages increase the risk of breast cancer. Women who drink one drink a day have a 7 to 10 percent increased risk of breast cancer. At two to three glasses a day, it increases by 20%. In fact, there is no safe level of alcohol consumption; the less you drink, the lower the risk.
1. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer
A recent survey sponsored by the National Institutes of Health found that more than 50% of adults in the United States do not know that drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer, including breast cancer. And among those who know about the link between alcohol and cancer, there is a belief or perception that the risk varies according to the type of alcohol consumed, but this is not true.
Dr. Andrew Seidenberg, who led the study, published in the American Journal of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention when he was a cancer prevention fellow at the National Cancer Institute, said. : “All alcoholic beverages, including wine, can increase the risk of cancer.”
All alcoholic beverages, including wine, can increase the risk of cancer.
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of many types of cancer, including breast cancer, said Dr. Andrew Seidenberg, currently director of research for Truth Initiative, a nonprofit public health organization.
A widely cited meta-analysis of 119 studies by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) and the World Cancer Research Fund published several years ago determined that consuming just one glass of the Drinking alcohol every day increases the risk of breast cancer by 5% in premenopausal women and 9% in postmenopausal women.
Doctor. Anne McTiernan, lead author of the report and cancer prevention expert at Fred explains: “A 5% increase in risk may result in a negligible change over a year for women in their thirties but higher than at the age of forty.
Overall, the 9% increase means that if a woman starts out with a typical one-eighth lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, having one drink a day over the long term could increase her risk. That's almost one-seventh and that's a significant increase.
According to the American Cancer Society, women who drink one glass of wine a day have a 7 to 10 percent increased risk of breast cancer. With two to three drinks a day, women face an increased risk of breast cancer of about 20%.
2. There is no safe level of alcohol consumption
Alcohol abuse increases the risk of cancer.
According to a 2023 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) published in the journal The Lancet Public Health, there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. To determine safety requires evidence that there is no risk of disease at or below a certain level, and there is no such evidence.
Dr. Carina Ferreira-Borges, of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, once said: “We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use – the risk to the drinker's health begins from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. The more you drink, the more harmful it is – in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is.”
Alcohol has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a group 1 carcinogen linked to 7 types of cancer. In addition to breast cancer in women, alcohol also increases the risk of cancers of the oral cavity (mouth), pharynx (throat), esophagus, liver, larynx, and colorectal cancer.
Alcohol contains ethanol, a known carcinogen, and it can promote cancer in several ways. Ethanol can increase estrogen levels, thereby increasing the risk of breast cancer. The breakdown of ethanol in the body can also produce high levels of acetaldehyde, which can damage DNA. Because all alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, all are risky.
Although some studies have shown a link between light and moderate drinking and heart health, experts say it's not yet possible to determine whether any of the benefits are due to the alcohol or to healthy lifestyle choices. healthy for the heart like a healthy diet and exercise or not. Furthermore, other research has found a link between alcohol consumption and heart disease. For these reasons and because the risk of cancer has been identified and it is recommended not to drink alcohol.
3. Do not drink alcohol or combine exercise and diet reduces the risk of breast cancer
While the risk of breast cancer increases with each unit of alcohol consumed, staying away from alcohol helps reduce the risk. In fact, alcohol is one of the leading modifiable risk factors for breast cancer. “Many people, including women, do not know that breast cancer is the most common cancer caused by alcohol in women globally. People need to know that by reducing alcohol consumption, they can reduce their risk of cancer,” said Marilys Corbex, PhD, senior technical officer for non-communicable diseases at WHO-Europe. in a WHO media release.
Not drinking alcohol, increasing exercise and eating healthy are factors in preventing cancer. Illustration.
Exercise and a healthy diet may also be helpful. According to Dr. McTiernan, a 2017 AICR report revealed for the first time that vigorous exercise such as running or cycling briskly reduces the risk of both pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer. The evidence is clear: Leading an active lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight throughout life and limiting alcohol intake – these are all steps women can take to reduce their risk of breast cancer.
A joint review of meta-analyses published in 2023 in the journal Clinical Nutrition found that following the Mediterranean Diet may reduce the risk of breast cancer, especially in women. after menopause. The Mediterranean diet focuses on plant foods like vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes and nuts, healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil, and choosing fish over red meat. Choosing poultry over red or processed meat has also been linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, it's best not to drink alcohol. Those who choose to drink alcohol should limit their intake to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
