Increased Cancer Risk for Women Consuming More Alcohol

The Journal of the National Cancer Institute recently released the findings of the Million Women Study, which looked at the link between alcohol consumption in women (average age of 55) and certain cancer risks. The study found that middle-aged women that drank in moderation (one drink per day) and those that consumed a few drinks each day had more of a risk of developing breast, rectal and liver cancer compared to those who drank fewer than two drinks each week. Researchers from the Cancer Epidemiology Unit at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom looked at the cancer rates of the 1.3 million study participants seven years after they had filled out the study survey, which included questions about smoking, body mass index, exercise habits, medications, treatments and alcohol consumption, type and frequency. They found that the more drinks a woman consumed, the higher her risk of developing those certain types of cancer. The risk of breast cancer jumped 12 percent and the risk of rectal cancer jumped 10 percent with each additional daily drink, with study authors estimating that almost 13 percent of all UK cancer cases in women may be caused by alcohol consumption.

The study also found that the type of alcohol consumed had no effect on cancer risk, so it makes no difference if a woman drinks beer, wine, liquor or mixed drinks. This means that it is the alcohol contained in those beverages that is causing an increased risk of cancer, and not some other ingredient. Researchers also reported that the risk of mouth, esophagus, pharynx and larynx cancers also increased for women that drank moderate amounts of alcohol and currently smoked cigarettes. What the study did not find was the reason why alcohol consumption increases cancer risk in women, although researchers believe there is evidence that moderate alcohol consumption does increase the levels of hormones being circulated throughout the body, which has been linked to a greater risk of breast cancer. Another deficiency is the possibility that some of the participants did not provide accurate information, making it unclear how concrete this evidence is. Although previous studies have found that one drink per day for women and two per day for men may lower the risk of stroke and heart attack, it is important to discuss with your doctor what would benefit you the most , depending on your particular health factors. Cancer, heart attack and stroke are very serious conditions and occurrences that require the immediate care of a doctor or hospital. If you or a loved one has experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment of cancer, heart attack or stroke in New York, call the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. Our firm serves clients with Bronx medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice, Nassau medical malpractice and Suffolk medical malpractice cases. Call today for your free consultation.

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