Cancer Research UK scientists have reported that women drinking more than two units of alcohol per day can increase the overall risk of the seven specific types developing cancer. After smoking, drinking alcohol is one of the main causes of cancer.
Cancer Research UK scientists tested over 1 million women in the UK between 1996 and 2001 to see how alcohol affects the risk of 21 different types of cancer. The results clearly showing that the less alcohol you drink, the lower your risk of cancer.
Results showed that women who drink two units a day double their risk of mouth and laryngeal cancer, and almost triple their risk of developing oesophageal cancer. Plus the more you drink, the higher the risk becomes.
The study did find that alcohol has a protective effect against certain types of cancer, with women who drink more being less at risk to kidney and thyroid cancer. These minor benefits can hardly compensate for the serious consequences of drinking too much, with the study showed that two units a day increases the risk of cancer overall by 15%.
The research estimates that every extra alcoholic drink per day is responsible for 15 cancers in every 1000 women, with 11 out of the 15 breast cancer.
Every year in the UK alcohol causes –
- 5000 breast cancers (just over one in ten cases)
- 200 mouth, oesophageal or laryngeal cancers (about one in twelve cases)
- 500 bowel cancers
- 250 liver cancers
Cancer Research UK recommends that women should only have a maximum of one small drink a day to limit the potential long term risks. These studies conclusively prove that what most of people consider a moderate amount of alcohol could affect the risk of several cancers.
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