Recent research indicates that alcohol consumption is associated with over 5% of all cancer cases, as stated in the 2024 Cancer Progress Report from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Among cancer risk factors, alcohol ranks third after obesity and cigarette smoking. Lead author Rajarshi Sengupta, PhD, mentioned that excessive alcohol intake can elevate the risk for six types of cancer, such as certain head and neck cancers, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, as well as breast, colorectal, liver, and stomach cancers. With reducing or eliminating alcohol intake, the risk of alcohol-related cancers could be decreased by 8% and the risk of all cancers by 4%.
Dr. Adam Scioli, an addiction psychiatrist at Caron Treatment Centers, highlighted the changing understanding of the health impact of alcohol. Despite past claims of its health benefits, it is now recognized as a modifiable risk factor for cancer. Data from AACR reveals that 75,000 Americans are annually diagnosed with alcohol-related cancers, with the risk being influenced by alcohol consumption volume and frequency. Scioli described alcohol as a toxin with harmful effects on 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 alcohol consumption levels can increase the risk of specific cancers. While the link between tobacco and cancer is widely acknowledged, public awareness regarding the connection between alcohol and cancer risk is lacking. The AACR reports that 51% of Americans are unaware of this association.
Scioli emphasized the importance of raising public awareness and suggested that reducing alcohol consumption can help lower cancer risk. Efforts to inform the public about this risk factor need to be increased."He mentioned the risks associated with drinking alcohol," he stated. Sengupta recommended the implementation of public awareness campaigns and the inclusion of cancer-specific caution labels on alcoholic drinks to tackle this issue. She also emphasized the importance of developing effective clinical approaches to assist in decreasing alcohol intake. Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month: Identifying Risk Factors and Early Symptoms.
