United States: According to new research, again, the spotlight is on the potential harm to ourselves from alcohol, and no amount could justify its benefits.
More about the news
The latest Cancer Progress Report, brought us from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) made a revelation that more than five percent (5%) of all cancer cases are linked to alcoholism.
The report suggested that among the modifiable risk factors for cancer, alcohol is said to be the third biggest, just behind obesity (7.6 percent of cases) and smoking cigarettes (19.3 percent).
According to Rajarshi Sengupta, PhD, lead author of the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2024, “Excessive levels of alcohol consumption increase the risk for six different types of cancer, including certain types of head and neck cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and breast, colorectal, liver and stomach cancers,” the New York Post reported.
“Further, research shows that alcohol intake at an early age can increase the risk of cancer later in life,” Sengupta added.
More about the findings
The findings suggested that putting a limit or cutting off alcohol consumption could significantly reduce the danger of the development of alcohol-related cancers by 8 percent, where the risk of developing all cancers is reduced by 4 percent.
What does an addiction expert have to say?
According to Dr. Adam Scioli of Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania, there has been a “roller coaster of information” regarding the potential harms of alcohol.
“There have even been reports for years that it could be beneficial for one’s health — but we know now that alcohol ingestion is one of the modifiable risk factors for cancer,” Scioli added.
As per him, there are around 75,000 Americans per year who get diagnosed with cancer, which has a direct or indirect link with alcohol consumption.
Therefore, he warned that there are concerns that the more someone drinks, both in terms of volume and frequency, the greater the chances of risk from it.
He also added, “Alcohol is a toxin,” and, “We’ve long known that it impacts any number of organs, essentially starting with the brain and working its way down to the colorectal system.”
According to the CDC, “Drinking alcohol in moderation may increase your overall risks of death and chronic disease,” the New York Post reported.