According to Keck Medicine of USC, 1 in 10 Americans ages 12 and over are struggling with alcoholism, and rates of heavy alcohol use have increased by 20% from 2018 to 2020.
These are not just numbers, this represents a public health issue. But the impact goes well beyond broken relationships, emotional trauma, and liver damage. Emerging evidence shows that alcohol plays a significant role in driving cancer rates across the U.S.
The science behind how alcohol raises cancer risk
While many people associate alcohol with cancer risk, fewer of us understand the science behind it. Here are several biological mechanisms that alcohol influences in cancer development:
- The National Library of Medicine states that ethanol (alcohol) breaks down into acetaldehyde, a toxic, carcinogenic compound that damages DNA and proteins.
- Chronic drinking can shift the brain from using glucose to acetate, impairing neurological function.
- Acetaldehyde and acetate, produced from the oxidative metabolism of alcohol, contribute to cell and tissue damage.
- Alcohol consumption reduces the absorption of protective nutrients like folate, vitamin A, C, and E.
- According to the National Cancer Institute, alcohol elevates estrogen levels in women, raising breast cancer risk.
Alcohol and Cancer: What the Data Shows
- According to the World Health Organization, alcohol contributes to around 4.7% of cancer diagnoses worldwide.
- The U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, identifies alcohol as the third leading preventable cause of cancer, contributing to an estimated 100,000 cases and 20,000 deaths per year.
- Additionally, nearly 17% of all breast cancer cases are attributed to alcohol consumption, and there is a direct link between alcohol consumption and cancers of the colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth, throat, and voice box.
These findings help underscore how impactful changes to alcohol consumption can be in dramatically reducing an individual’s likelihood of developing cancer. The American Association for Cancer Research states that stopping or reducing alcohol intake can reduce the risk of alcohol related cancers by 8%.
How much alcohol use will increase cancer risk?
According to Elisa Bandera, Chief of Cancer Epidemiology at the Rutgers Cancer Institute, even moderate drinking increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
What Can We Do?
- Raise Awareness: Successful nationwide initiatives to educate the general public about the harmful effects of tobacco have been significant in prompting the decline of lung cancer over the past decade. We must implement similar public messaging initiatives to educate the public that no level of alcohol consumption is risk-free.
- Policy Action: Advocate for cancer warning labels on alcohol, similar to the tobacco warnings that have been implemented. According to Verywell Health, studies show that labelling reduces consumption, although this policy faces resistance from the industry.
- Health Guidelines & Screenings: We should encourage moderation guidelines and integrate alcohol discussions into routine healthcare.
Getting help
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcoholism, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) provide free, confidential support.
Where we go from here
Alcohol is not just a social or personal issue; it is a public health risk with real consequences. Understanding the link between alcohol and cancer is powerful. Reducing consumption, supporting those in need, and advocating for stronger public health measures can save lives. Recognizing the role that alcohol plays in cancer diagnoses is just the start, and we must turn awareness into action.
