Alcohol use is a number one preventable reason behind most cancers, in response to an advisory from the Surgeon Normal. Research present a hyperlink to not less than 7 varieties of most cancers. The extra individuals drink, the upper the chance.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
The surgeon common has a brand new warning concerning the most cancers dangers of consuming alcohol, which contributes to a couple of hundred thousand most cancers circumstances per yr. As NPR’s Allison Aubrey experiences, there’s rising proof that consuming alcohol will increase the dangers of not less than seven varieties of most cancers.
ALLISON AUBREY, BYLINE: In case you’re within the behavior of consuming wine, beer or a cocktail, you are in good firm. Dry January apart, what the info reveals is that greater than two-thirds of adults within the U.S. report having not less than one drink or extra per week. However Surgeon Normal Vivek Murthy says what many individuals do not understand is that alcohol consumption can enhance the chance of breast and colorectal most cancers, in addition to cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus and liver.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
VIVEK MURTHY: The science has been constructing for years, creating larger and larger certainty about increasingly more varieties of most cancers. However what is obvious is that whereas individuals know, for instance, concerning the hyperlink between tobacco and most cancers, lower than half of individuals in America know that alcohol is, in reality, related to most cancers danger.
AUBREY: The report concludes alcohol is the third main preventable reason behind most cancers, behind tobacco use and weight problems. Again in 2020, a coalition of well being advocacy teams petitioned the U.S. authorities to undertake a most cancers warning label on alcoholic drinks, and Murthy says he’d wish to see Congress act on this, including most cancers to the prevailing warnings about consuming throughout being pregnant and whereas working a automotive or heavy equipment. However Murthy says what just isn’t clear is the quantity of alcohol which will enhance an individual’s danger.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MURTHY: The precise degree that is a proper for every particular person does rely upon their very own danger of most cancers based mostly on their genetics, their household historical past, environmental exposures.
AUBREY: The extra you drink, the upper your danger. And in Canada, the rules advise those who three to 6 drinks per week can enhance the chance of breast and colon most cancers. Dr. Jamie Koprivnikar is an oncologist at Hackensack Meridian Well being in New Jersey.
JAMIE KOPRIVNIKAR: In coping with most cancers sufferers, we actually know, significantly in sufferers who’ve a historical past of breast most cancers, actually, continued alcohol use is a significant danger for breast most cancers recurrence.
AUBREY: Because the physique metabolizes alcohol, a compound referred to as acetaldehyde is produced, which is a possible carcinogen. Dr. Koprivnikar says this is among the mechanisms linking alcohol to most cancers. She says a lot of her sufferers ask her if there is a protected quantity to devour.
KOPRIVNIKAR: I feel the most secure quantity of alcohol is totally abstaining.
AUBREY: The present U.S. tips suggest no a couple of drink a day for ladies, two for males. There’s an evaluation underway now to find out whether or not this steerage needs to be revised.
Allison Aubrey, NPR Information.
(SOUNDBITE OF BADBADNOTGOOD AND GHOSTFACE KILLAH SONG, “STREET KNOWLEDGE”)
Copyright © 2025 NPR. All rights reserved. Go to our web site phrases of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for additional info.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This textual content might not be in its ultimate type and could also be up to date or revised sooner or later. Accuracy and availability could fluctuate. The authoritative report of NPR’s programming is the audio report.