This is a question that many people wonder about. The answer is clear, and sobering.
Yes, alcohol can cause cancer.
Understanding this relationship is important when it comes to making informed health decisions.
Alcohol is classified as a Group one carcinogen, which means there is no doubt it can cause cancer in humans.
Drinking alcohol has been directly linked to at least seven types of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, breast, liver, and bowel.
It's estimated that alcohol is responsible for four per cent of all new cancer cases in Australia, and over 2000 cancer-related deaths per year.
How does alcohol increase cancer risk?
Alcohol can cause cancer in several ways, affecting your body at a cellular level.
1. Acetaldehyde
When the body breaks down alcohol, it produces acetaldehyde. This toxic chemical can bind to DNA and damage it, leading to uncontrollable cell growth and development of a cancerous tumour.
2. Inflammation
Alcohol can increase the number of free radicals in the body. In excess, these unstable molecules can cause oxidative stress, damaging cells, proteins, and DNA. This damage leads to chronic inflammation, placing the body under stress and creating an environment where cancerous tumours can develop.
3. Hormones
Alcohol can increase the levels of estrogen and other hormones in the body, which accelerates tissue growth in hormone-sensitive areas such as the breast. This increased growth raises the risk of mutations occurring and cancerous tumours developing.
4. Absorption
Alcohol can act as a solvent, making it easier for other carcinogens, such as those found in tobacco, to be absorbed into cells. This increases the risk of developing cancerous tumours in the mouth, throat, and oesophagus.
How much alcohol is safe?
When it comes to cancer risk, no amount of alcohol is safe. Even small amounts of alcohol increase the risk, and the more you drink over time, the greater this risk becomes.
It doesn't matter if you're drinking beer, wine, or spirits, as it is the alcohol content itself that causes the damage. All types of alcohol increase the risk of cancer.
Reducing your risk
The best way to reduce your risk is to reduce the amount you drink. The only way to fully eliminate cancer risk from alcohol is to not drink at all.
If you do drink, the Australian Alcohol Guidelines recommend that healthy adults should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than four standard drinks on any one day.
