Alcohol And Cancer: All You Need To Know About The Risks

Key Takeaways

Drinking alcohol damages your DNA, weakens the immune system, and causes hormonal changes.
Mouth, throat, liver, esophagal, and breast cancers are the types of cancer linked to alcohol consumption.
Abstaining from alcohol can lower your cancer risk.

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Alcohol increases the risk of developing several types of cancer. The risk of cancer increases with the amount of alcohol consumed, and even light to moderate drinking can increase the risk.

What you need to know:

How alcohol increases cancer risk?
4 Types of cancer linked to alcohol consumption
How can you reduce your cancer risk from drinking alcohol?
What happens to cancer risk after a person stops drinking alcohol?

How alcohol increases cancer risk?

Alcohol causes seven different types of cancer and causes damage to your body. Cutting down on it will reduce your risk of cancer.

1. Damaging DNA

When we drink alcohol, our bodies turn alcohol into a chemical called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde can damage our cells and also stop cells from repairing this damage. It can damage both DNA (the genetic material that makes up genes) and proteins. Also, chemically reactive molecules that contain oxygen can damage the body’s DNA, proteins, and lipids (fats) through oxidation. This chemical reaction occurs when a substance comes into contact with oxygen or another oxidizing substance.

2. Weakening the immune system

The immune system is a complex network of organs, cells and proteins that defend the body against infection while protecting the body’s cells. Alcohol impairs the body’s ability to break down and absorb a variety of nutrients that may be associated with cancer risk, including vitamin A and nutrients in the vitamin B complex, such as folate, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and carotenoids.

3. Hormonal changes

Hormones are chemical substances that act like messenger molecules in the body. Alcohol can increase the levels of some hormones in your body, such as estrogen and insulin. This can make cells divide more often, increasing the chance of developing cancer.

4 Types of cancer linked to alcohol consumption

There is a strong scientific consensus that drinking alcohol can cause several types of cancer, such as:

1. Mouth, throat, and esophageal cancer

Alcohol consumption can cause certain types of throat cancer in the esophagus (food pipe), larynx (voice box) and pharynx (upper throat). At any level, it is associated with an increased risk of esophagal squamous cell carcinoma (a type of esophagal cancer). In addition, people who inherit a deficiency in an enzyme that breaks down alcohol have been found to have substantially increased risks of esophagal squamous cell carcinoma if they consume alcohol.

2. Liver cancer

Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with approximately two-fold increased risks of two types of liver cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a kind of liver cancer that develops in the liver’s cells, called hepatocytes. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer that forms in the bile ducts or a network of tubes that carry bile from the liver to the small intestine within the liver. Also, chronic alcohol consumption can lead to liver cirrhosis, a condition where the liver becomes scarred, which greatly increases the risk of liver cancer.

3. Breast cancer

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Studies have consistently found an increased risk of breast cancer with increasing alcohol intake. It is the leading cause of cancer in Indian women, as per the National Cancer Registry Programme of India. Experts estimate that the risk of breast cancer goes up 25% for women having more than three drinks daily.

4. Colorectal cancer

Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption is associated with increased risks of colorectal cancer or cancers of the colon and rectum. Colorectal cancer (CRC) in India has a low age-standardized rate (ASR) but a high number of cases due to the country’s large population. The five-year survival rate for CRC in India is low, and the number of deaths is high despite the low incidence.

How can you reduce your cancer risk from drinking alcohol?

Abstaining from or significantly cutting down on drinking can reduce your risk of cancer caused by alcohol.

Moderate alcohol consumption (if any)

If you drink alcohol, cutting down will reduce your risk of cancer. The less you drink, the better. In the short term, drinking less alcohol can improve the quality of your sleep and help you feel better in the mornings. It can also reduce your risk of accidents, high blood pressure and liver disease.

Abstaining from alcohol completely

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Alcohol causes seven different types of cancer. Even small amounts of alcohol can damage the cells of your body. So, changing your current drinking habits and cutting down on alcohol will be good for your health and lower your risk of cancer.

Healthy lifestyle choices

Healthy lifestyle choices can promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. They include eating well, exercising regularly, and managing stress.

Consider walking, jogging, dancing, swimming, lifting weights, or playing sports.
Eat a well-balanced diet, incorporating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit saturated fat and cholesterol.
Keep yourself adequately hydrated.
Manage stress by mindfully meditating or doing yoga.

What happens to cancer risk after a person stops drinking alcohol?

Research indicates that those who reduce alcohol consumption or stop drinking altogether can decrease their risk of developing alcohol-related cancers by 8% and can reduce their risk of all cancers by 4% compared to those who sustain or increase their consumption of alcohol. In general, stopping alcohol consumption is not associated with immediate reductions in cancer risk. However, the cancer risks eventually decline with time.

The evidence for any health benefits from alcohol is not clear. Research has shown there is no completely safe level of drinking, and the risk of cancer increases from drinking even small amounts of alcohol. So, refrain from drinking alcohol and keep cancer and other ailments at bay to support your overall health.

Stay tuned to the Activ Living Community. Keep up to date with the latest health tips and trends through expert videos, podcasts, articles, and much more on nutrition, fitness, mindfulness, and lifestyle conditions like Asthma, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Diabetes. Activ Living ke saath sahi sehat ki shuruat ABHI karo.

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