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Like a bit of a tipple? You may be increasing your risk of seven types of cancer. According to a new study published today in the journal Addiction, alcohol causes cancer in the oropharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colon, rectum and breast.
“There is strong evidence that alcohol causes cancer at seven sites in the body and probably others,” Jennie Connor, the lead author on the journal report, said, according to the Guardian. “Even without complete knowledge of biological mechanisms [of how alcohol causes cancer], the epidemiological evidence can support the judgment that alcohol causes cancer of the oropharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colon, rectum and breast.”
The real bummer with the findings is that, according to Connor, there’s enough evidence to conclude that drinking alcohol is a direct cause of cancer — not just a factor among a cocktail of symptoms. Not only that, but the cancer risk level rises the more you drink. Even drinking in moderation may not make a difference — therefore, Connor said, alcohol awareness campaigns should focus on all drinkers, not just those who drink heavily.
“The highest risks are associated with the heaviest drinking but a considerable burden is experienced by drinkers with low to moderate consumption, due to the distribution of drinking in the population,” Connor said.
Last year, a study published in the British Medical Journal found that drinking a daily glass of wine actually increased women’s likelihood of developing breast cancer.
“For women who have never smoked, risk of alcohol-related cancers (mainly breast cancer) increases even within the range of up to one alcoholic drink a day,” the study concluded.
On the upside, Connor found some evidence that giving up alcohol could reverse the risk of some cancers, with better results the longer the subject abstained.
Agencies/Canadajournal
What causes problems, IS ONE. Alcohol and cancer links have been proven in evidence-based studies since the 1980’s. Readers of alcohologist.com content have had all the studies at the foundation of this report since the start of this decade. In fact, the catalyst for this report was The A-Files: Alcohol A-Z video series and it’s predecessor series, The Sobriety :60 in the Alcohology app for Android, both of which predate this latest flurry of news activity. That any consumption of a toxin and known carcinogen causes cancer is not the earth-shattering news: That mainstream media outlets beholden to alcohol advertisers are actually running the story is the real development here.