Text Size
Smaller
Bigger

3 Drinks a Day Raises Breast Cancer Risk by 51%

posted 08:21 AM EST, Wed April 16, 2008
-- filed under: | | | |
3 Drinks a Day Raises Breast Cancer Risk by 51% © Photo: Merfam

A massive study from the National Cancer Institute has linked post menopausal alcohol consumption to greatly increased rates of breast cancer.

The most common types of breast cancer are those influenced by the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and recent research reveals that alcohol consumption raises the risks of experiencing these hormonally mediated cancers significantly.

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute followed a sample pool of 184 418 post menopausal women for 7 years, and tracked how much alcohol they drank, and recorded how many of these women developed estrogen and progesterone linked breast cancer. They found that when compared to completely abstinent women, having less than 1 drink a day raised the risk of breast cancer by 7%, having 1-2 drinks a day raised the risks by 32% and having 3 or more drinks per day raised the risks by 51%.

The type of alcohol consumed made no difference, and wine was just as damaging as beer or liquor.

The researchers speculate that alcohol interferes with estrogen metabolism, which causes an increase in estrogen fueled cancers.

Experts caution that although the results of the study are dramatic, there is no causal link – merely a correlation relationship. They cannot say whether or not alcohol causes the increases in cancer rates, only that women observed drinking at certain levels experienced greater rates of breast cancer.

Because of the heart protective effects of moderate alcohol consumption, experts recommend weighing genetic risk factors prior to making a decision on alcohol consumption. If there is a greater familial history of heart disease, moderate drinking may be advised, if breast cancer runs in the family, it's probably not.

Subscribe Subscribe to this topic category
Creative Commons License
Copyright Notice
We welcome republishing of our content on condition that you credit Choose Help and the respective authors. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Helpful Information
Alcohol Addiction - the Straight Facts
Addicted to Alcohol? Learn About Alcoholism & Treatment © Josep Salvia I Bote
The difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction (alcoholism), what puts you at risk of becoming an alcoholic and what to do once you’ve crossed that invisible line to addiction. Read Article
Addictions November 13, 2023
An Alcoholism Progression Timeline
A Timeline Charting the Progressive Nature of Alcoholism © Flannol
Here are 2 facts about alcoholism: It tends to get worse over time (it is progressive) and most people experience a fairly similar progression of symptoms and consequences. Here is a timeline which charts the progressive experiences of alcoholism through the early, middle and late stages. If you have a drinking problem, find out where you fall on the timeline and consider what’s coming in the future. Read Article
Alcoholism July 11, 2013 (18)

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information.

Find Treatment
Browse by region »
Scan to call us
using your phone camera app