Recent research suggests that more than 5% of cancer cases are associated with alcohol consumption, as reported in the 2024 Cancer Progress Report by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Alcohol ranks as the third risk factor for cancer, after obesity and smoking. The report's lead author, Rajarshi Sengupta, PhD, explained that high levels of alcohol intake can increase the risk of six types of cancer, such as head and neck, esophageal, breast, colorectal, liver, and stomach cancers. By reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption, the risk of alcohol-related cancers can be lowered by 8%, and the overall cancer risk by 4%.
Dr. Adam Scioli, an addiction psychiatrist from Caron Treatment Centers, highlighted the changing perceptions of alcohol's impact on health. While it was once believed to have health benefits, it is now recognized as a modifiable risk factor for cancer. Data from AACR shows that 75,000 Americans are diagnosed with alcohol-related cancers annually, with the risk increasing based on the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumed. Alcohol is considered a toxin, causing harm to various organs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines moderate alcohol consumption as one drink per day for women and up to two drinks for men. However, even low levels of alcohol consumption can raise the risk of certain cancers. Despite widespread knowledge of the link between tobacco and cancer, awareness of alcohol's role in cancer risk remains limited, with 51% of Americans reported to be unaware of this connection.
Scioli stressed the importance of raising public awareness and suggested that reducing alcohol intake could decrease cancer risk. Efforts to inform the public about the risks associated with alcohol consumption need to be intensified."Inherent in alcohol consumption," he mentioned. Sengupta suggested the need for public information campaigns and cancer-specific caution labels on alcoholic drinks to tackle this issue. She also emphasized the importance of exploring effective clinical approaches to decrease alcohol intake. Thyroid cancer awareness month: Identifying risk factors and early symptoms.
