This article Republished from conversation under Creative Commons License.
It was once thought that small amounts of alcohol were good for you. However, as scientific research progresses, we are beginning to learn more clearly about the health effects of alcohol, especially when it comes to cancer.
The complex relationship between alcohol and cancer was recently highlighted in a new report from the American Association for Cancer Research. The findings of this report are eye-opening.
The report’s authors estimate that 40% of all cancer cases are associated with “modifiable risk factors,” meaning things we can change ourselves. The most notable of these is alcohol intake.
Six types of cancer are linked to alcohol consumption: head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and stomach cancer.
The statistics are sobering. In 2019, more than 1 in 20 cancer diagnoses in Europe and the United States were due to alcohol consumption, and this percentage is increasing over time. This figure challenges the widespread perception that alcohol is a harmless social lubricant and builds on several well-conducted studies linking alcohol consumption to cancer risk.
However, this is not just a story about the present, but also about the future. The report highlights a worrying trend in the rising incidence of certain cancers among young adults. It’s a plot twist that researchers like me are still trying to understand, but alcohol consumption has emerged as a potential frontrunner on the list of causes.
Of particular concern is the increasing incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer in adults younger than 50 years. The report points to an annual increase of 1.9% between 2011 and 2019.
Although the exact causes of this trend are still under investigation, there is an association between frequent and regular drinking in early and middle adulthood and an increased risk of colon and rectal cancer later in life. is consistently shown in research. However, it is also important to understand that this story is not a tragedy.
Rather, it is a cautionary tale with the possibility of a hopeful ending. Unlike many risk factors for cancer, alcohol consumption is something we can control. Reducing or eliminating alcohol intake reduces risk and provides a form of empowerment in the face of unpredictable disease.
The relationship between alcohol and cancer risk generally follows a dose-response pattern. This simply means that the more you drink, the greater your risk. Even light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of some cancers, especially breast cancer.
However, while alcohol increases the risk of cancer, it is important to remember that not all drinkers will develop cancer. Many factors are involved in the development of cancer.
damage DNA
The story doesn’t end with these numbers. It extends to the cells of our body, and that’s where alcohol’s journey begins. When we drink alcohol, our bodies break down alcohol into acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a substance that can damage DNA, the blueprint for cells. This means alcohol can rewrite our DNA, causing changes called mutations, which can lead to cancer.
The story becomes even more complex when you consider the different ways alcohol interacts with our bodies. It can impair the absorption of nutrients and vitamins, change hormone levels, and even make it easier for harmful chemicals to enter the cells of your mouth and throat. It can affect our gut bacteria, the so-called microbiome, which we live with and are important to our health and well-being.
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