Drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer. Science has a lot of evidence for this

Although much has been said about the harmfulness of alcohol consumption for years, not everyone is aware that it promotes cancer in various ways. Meanwhile, it turns out that the so-called moderate drinking increases the risk of some types of cancer. The less someone drinks, the better.

1. According to a new study, as many as 4 percent. global cancer cases can be traced to alcohol consumption
2. The main types of dependent neoplasms include from alcohol is cancer of the head and neck, esophagus, liver, breast and colon
3. According to scientists, drinking three bottles of wine a week statistically increases the risk of developing the disease, as does smoking 8 cigarettes by men and 23 by women
4. The product of alcohol transformation damages DNA, and moreover, ethanol causes the formation of harmful radicals and disrupts the hormonal balance
5. Check your health. Just answer these questions
6. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Hundreds of thousands of cases every year

Over 740 Cancer cases each year around the world result from drinking alcohol, argue the authors of a new study, which appeared in the pages of the prestigious journal “The Lancet Oncology”. This means 4 percent. all cancers. Three-quarters of drinking-related illnesses affect men. Most cancers resulted from drinking large amounts, although the risk, as it turned out, also increases with the so-called moderate drinking, which accounted for 3 percent. alcohol-related cases.

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The geographical analysis also showed the regions most affected by the problem. Unfortunately, Central Europe was also among them, along with Eastern Europe and East Asia. In Poland, 4,4 percent. tumors can be attributed to ethanol consumption.

“Our study indicates the effect of even a relatively low level of consumption on cancer risk, which is worrying, but also suggests that even small changes in consumption may have a positive impact on the risk” – emphasizes co-author of the study, Harriet Rumgay from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Scientists call for raising awareness of the problem, especially among decision-makers. They also propose public health strategies, such as restricting access to alcohol, labeling alcoholic products with health warnings, and advertising bans that could reduce alcohol-related cancers.

– In 1988, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO agency), based on scientific literature and own research, recognized alcohol as one of the most powerful human carcinogens. Alcohol consumption is one risk factor that can be prevented. The European Code of Fight against Cancer recommends complete abstinence, because the consumption of even small doses of alcohol has a carcinogenic effect – says Dr. hab. n. med. Joanna A. Didkowska, head of the Department of Epidemiology and Primary Prevention of Cancer of the National Cancer Registry. – In Poland, alcohol consumption remains at a very high level (10,7 liters per capita in 2018). Higher alcohol consumption was recorded mainly in the Baltic States (Latvia 12,6 l) and Our Country (11,2 l). In Poland, the percentage of people who never drink alcohol is 26%. Almost 50 percent. Polish adults drink several times a month. The so-called The latency time, i.e. the period necessary for the development and manifestation of the disease in the case of alcohol-related cancers, is estimated at 20-40 years, so the effects of this situation are probably still ahead of us – the expert notes.

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How many cigarettes are that?

Meanwhile, to make people aware of the risk of cancer associated with drinking, specialists at the University of Southampton have expressed the risk in the number of cigarettes smoked. Almost everyone knows that smoking strongly promotes cancer. “Our study shows the percentage of an increase in alcohol-related cancer risk in the UK population, and is the only one that uses the equivalent of smoking to express a risk,” says project author Dr Theresa Hydes.

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In this approach, it turned out that, for example, for a non-smoker, an additional lifetime risk of developing three bottles of wine per week is 1,9%. for men and 3,6 percent. among women. This is equivalent to the risk of eight cigarettes a week for men and 23 for women.

“We have to be clear that this study does not show that moderate drinking is in any way equal to smoking. Our results address the risk in the population over the course of a person’s lifetime. The risk of drinking and smoking will vary from person to person, and for many specific people the impact of 10 units of alcohol (one bottle of wine) or five to 10 cigarettes will be different, ‘Dr Hydes notes.

Different types of cancer

Research already shows clearly that drinking raises the risk of various types of cancer. “The association of alcohol consumption has been confirmed in cancers of the lip, mouth and throat, larynx, esophagus, colon and rectum, liver and breast cancer in women. There is also evidence, although not as strong as in the case of the previously mentioned cancers, that drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing cancer of the gallbladder, prostate, stomach and melanoma “- warns Dr. Didkowska. “It is commonly believed that there is no link between breast cancer and alcohol drinking, but research shows that as much as 10 percent breast cancer is associated with drinking alcohol.

Alcohol causes hormonal disorders (mainly the level of estrogen – a female hormone, which increases the risk of developing the disease). Research conducted by scientists from the Department of Epidemiology and Primary Prevention of Cancer of the National Institute of Oncology shows that as much as 5,8 percent. men and 3,4 percent. all cancers in women are caused by drinking alcohol »- explains the specialist.

Carcinogenic aldehyde

There are many ways in which ethanol can promote cancer. First, it causes the mutation itself indirectly. Well, human cells have enzymes that break down alcohol into less harmful substances. Along the way, a compound called acetaldehyde is formed, which can damage DNA until it is broken down by the appropriate enzymes. Some people, especially of Asian descent, have a mutation that accelerates the breakdown of alcohol into a carcinogenic aldehyde. It’s not everything.

Part of the population, especially Asian, has a mutation that makes it difficult to convert the aldehyde into milder substances. The accumulation of acetaldehyde in the body can sometimes be recognized by certain symptoms. Experts mention facial flushing and heart palpitations. Fortunately, these symptoms mean that people with difficult aldehyde metabolism tend to drink less, which lowers their risk of cancer.

Geneticists talk about mutations that affect alcohol metabolism, but mainly in terms of the speed and quality of alcohol metabolism, i.e. the speed at which acetaldehyde is removed from the body. I do not know of studies that show that the way alcohol is metabolized has an effect on cancer risk. I believe cancer risk does not depend on how a person responds to alcohol. There is no safe dose of alcohol. It should also be remembered that cancer is one of the long list of diseases caused by alcohol consumption: mental disorders, including alcoholism, digestive system diseases (including cirrhosis, pancreatitis), cardiovascular diseases, strokes, traffic accidents. Additionally, alcohol reduces the effectiveness of the therapies used, emphasizes Dr. Didkowska.

Attack from different sides

However, ethanol also works in other ways. It also causes the formation of oxygen radicals that damage various parts of cells, including genes. It raises the level of some cancer-promoting hormones. At the same time, it makes it difficult to break down some toxic substances, e.g. from tobacco. The combination of alcohol and tobacco is therefore particularly harmful. The effect of this combination is stronger than simply adding up the risk. In this case, for example, the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus increases strongly.

Unfortunately, stopping drinking does not immediately reduce the risk. It takes years. For example, an analysis of available studies conducted by a team from the University of Toronto showed that in the first two years after stopping drinking, the risk of esophageal cancer increased strongly, then decreased, but it took more than 15 years to significantly decrease. So if someone wants to reduce the risk of cancer, the prescription, although it may not be easy for everyone, is simple – drink as little as possible, and it’s best not to start.

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