THIS ARTICLE IS republished from The conversation under a Creative Commons License.
It was once thought that a little alcohol was good for your health. However, as scientific research progresses, we are getting a clearer picture of the effect of alcohol on health, especially as it relates to cancer.
The complex relationship between alcohol and cancer was recently highlighted in a new report from the American Association for Cancer Research. The report’s conclusions are revealing.
The report’s authors estimate that 40 percent of all cancer cases are associated with “modifiable risk factors”; In other words, things we can change ourselves. Among them, alcohol consumption stands out.
Six types of cancer are linked to alcohol consumption: head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and stomach cancer.
The statistics are sobering. In 2019, more than one in 20 cancer diagnoses in the West were attributed to alcohol consumption, and this figure is increasing over time. This figure challenges the widespread perception of alcohol as a harmless social lubricant and is based on several well driven studies relate alcohol consumption to cancer risk.
But it’s not just about the present: it’s also about the future. The report highlights a worrying trend: rising rates of certain cancers among younger adults. It’s a plot twist that researchers like me are still trying to understand, but alcohol consumption is emerging as a possible front-runner on the list of causes.
Of particular concern is the increasing incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer among adults under 50 years of age. The report notes an annual increase of 1.9 percent between 2011 and 2019.
While the exact causes of this trend are still being investigated, research consistently shows a link between frequent and regular alcohol consumption in early and middle adulthood and an increased risk of colon and rectal cancer. later in life. But it’s also important to realize that this story is not a tragedy.
It’s more of a warning with the potential for a hopeful ending. Unlike many cancer risk factors, alcohol consumption is one we can control. Reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption can reduce risk, offering a form of empowerment in the face of an often unpredictable disease.
The relationship between alcohol and cancer risk generally follows a dose-response pattern, meaning simply that higher levels of consumption are associated with greater risk. Even light to moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to an increased risk of some types of cancer, particularly breast cancer.
However, it is essential to remember that while alcohol increases the risk of cancer, it does not mean that everyone who drinks will develop cancer. Many factors contribute to the development of cancer.
Damages DNA
The story does not end with these numbers. It extends to the very cells of our body, where the alcohol journey begins. When we drink, our bodies break down the alcohol into acetaldehydea substance that can damage our DNA, the blueprint of our cells. This means that alcohol can potentially rewrite our DNA and create changes called mutationswhich in turn can cause cancer.
The story becomes more complex when we consider the various ways alcohol interacts with our bodies. It can affect the absorption of nutrients and vitamins, alter hormone levels, and even make it easier for harmful chemicals to penetrate the cells of your mouth and throat. It can affect the bacteria in our intestine, the so-called microbiome, with which we live and is important for our health and welfare.
