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Alcohol Linked to Women's Cancer

Massive study finds even moderate drinking raises risk

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 25, 2009 1:12 AM CST

(Newser) – Drinking alcohol, even in moderation, has been linked to an increased risk of cancer for women, reports the Washington Post. Consuming an average of just one drink a day of any kind of alcohol was found to result in a higher risk of breast, liver and rectal cancer. The study estimated that 5% of all cancers in women result from drinking.

"There doesn't seem to be a threshold at which alcohol consumption is safe," said the lead researcher, whose work is published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Study critics noted that the study did not distinguish between women who had a daily drink and those who drank up to seven drinks once a week, and worried the findings may unnecessarily frighten women into depriving themselves of the health benefits of an occasional drink.

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British researchers have linked alcohol to higher rates of breast, liver and rectal cancer in women, and to higher rates of mouth and throat cancer in women who also smoked. (Shutter Stock)

The study found the cancer risk increased whether wine, beer or other forms of alcoholic drink were consumed. (©uxud)

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If you are regularly drinking even one drink per day, that's increasing your risk for cancer. - Lead researcher Naomi E. Allen of the University of Oxford

It's a level of consumption that generally has been found in scientific studies to be associated with a relatively low risk of harms. But low risk does not mean no risk.
- Robert D. Brewer of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Alcohol Linked to Women's Cancer