New findings from the 2024 Cancer Progress Report by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) reveal that alcohol consumption is associated with more than 5% of all cancer cases. Among known cancer risk factors, alcohol ranks third behind obesity and cigarette smoking. The report's lead author, Rajarshi Sengupta, PhD, explained that consuming excessive amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of six different types of cancer, including head and neck cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and stomach cancer. Sengupta highlighted that reducing or eliminating alcohol intake could lower the risk of alcohol-related cancers by 8% and overall cancer risk by 4%.

Dr. Adam Scioli, an addiction psychiatrist at Caron Treatment Centers, noted a shift in perceptions regarding alcohol's impact on health, emphasizing that while there were previous beliefs about its health benefits, it is now recognized as a modifiable risk factor for cancer. Data from AACR indicates that 75,000 Americans are diagnosed with alcohol-related cancers annually, with the risk escalating based on the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption. Scioli stressed that alcohol is a harmful substance, causing damage to various organs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines moderate alcohol use as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks for men. However, the CDC warns that even minimal alcohol consumption can heighten the risk of specific cancers. Despite the well-established connection between tobacco and cancer, public awareness about the link between alcohol and cancer risk remains lacking, with 51% of Americans unaware of this association according to the AACR.

Scioli underscored the importance of raising public awareness about the risks associated with alcohol consumption to lower cancer risk, emphasizing the need for increased efforts in educating the public on this issue."The risks associated with drinking alcohol are inherent," he commented. To tackle this issue, Sengupta suggested the implementation of public awareness campaigns and the inclusion of cancer-specific cautionary labels on alcoholic drinks. She also highlighted the importance of developing effective clinical approaches to support decreasing alcohol intake. September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month: Recognizing risk factors and early symptoms.