A recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General highlights alcohol consumption as the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, following tobacco use and obesity. This revelation is part of an ongoing discussion about the risks associated with alcohol consumption and its link to cancer.
Ashley Hendershot, an advanced clinical genomic nurse at Wilmot Cancer Institute, remarked on changing perceptions regarding alcohol: “There used to be a belief that a ‘glass of wine a day keeps the doctor away,’ but that is slowly being pulled back to moderate, moderate, moderate.”
Alcohol has been linked to six types of cancers: colorectal, female breast, certain head and neck cancers, liver, esophageal, and stomach cancer. As a known carcinogen, any amount of alcohol can contribute to cancer risk. Hendershot emphasized moderation by stating: “The initial recommendation was moderation, but research confirms the main issue: alcohol is a carcinogen.”
Current guidelines suggest limiting intake to one drink per day for women and two for men. Standard drink measurements include 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol), 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol), or 1.5 ounces of spirits (40% alcohol).
Alcohol consumption depletes folic acid necessary for DNA repair and may increase circulating estrogen levels, which could elevate breast cancer risk. “A lot of studies around the harm of alcohol after a breast cancer diagnosis have led us to encourage our breast cancer survivors to really try to moderate their alcohol or not drink alcohol at all,” said Hendershot.
The AACR report indicates that reducing or stopping alcohol consumption can lower overall cancer risk by 4% and reduce the risk of alcohol-related cancers by 8%. While there are multiple factors influencing cancer development, understanding current data is crucial.
Hendershot’s team aids patients with family or personal histories of cancer in understanding their risks based on scientific evidence.
Additional lifestyle choices can also impact cancer risk according to the AACR Report. These include eliminating tobacco use, maintaining a healthy weight through diet and activity, protecting skin from UV exposure, preventing infections from pathogens causing cancer, limiting environmental risks exposure, and being aware of hormonal factors.
Wilmot Cancer Institute offers a Hereditary Cancer Screening and Risk Reduction Program for individuals with familial or personal histories of cancer. The program is accessible without prior visits to Wilmot.
For more information about this program call (585) 486-0600 or visit their website.
