New findings from the 2024 Cancer Progress Report by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) reveal that alcohol consumption is associated with over 5% of all cancer cases. Alcohol ranks as the third most significant risk factor for cancer, following obesity and cigarette smoking. Lead author Dr. Rajarshi Sengupta stated that excessive alcohol intake increases the risk of six types of cancer, including head and neck, esophageal, breast, colorectal, liver, and stomach cancers. The report suggests that reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption could lead to an 8% decrease in alcohol-related cancer risk and a 4% reduction in overall cancer risk. Dr. Adam Scioli, an addiction psychiatrist, highlighted the changing perceptions of alcohol's health impact and emphasized the need to raise public awareness about the link between alcohol and cancer. Data from AACR indicated that 75,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with alcohol-related cancers, with risk increasing based on the amount and frequency of alcohol consumed. While moderate alcohol use is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even low levels of alcohol intake can elevate cancer risk. Despite the well-known association between tobacco and cancer, public awareness regarding alcohol's role in cancer risk remains lacking, as reported by AACR. Dr. Scioli stressed the importance of educating the public on this connection and advocated for reducing alcohol consumption to lower cancer risk."Inherent in consuming alcohol," he stated. Sengupta recommended public awareness campaigns and cancer-specific caution labels on alcoholic drinks to tackle this issue. She also highlighted the importance of effective clinical approaches in lowering alcohol intake. Thyroid cancer awareness month: Identifying risk factors and early symptoms.