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It was once thought that small amounts of alcohol were good for you. However, as scientific research advances, the effects of alcohol on health, particularly regarding cancer, are becoming more clear.
The complex relationship between alcohol and cancer was recently highlighted in a paper. new report From the American Association for Cancer Research. The findings of this report are eye-opening.
The report’s authors estimate that 40% of all cancer cases are associated with “modifiable risk factors” – things we can change ourselves. The most notable of these is the amount of alcohol consumed.
Six types of cancer are linked to alcohol consumption: head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and stomach cancer.
The statistics are sobering. In 2019, more than 1 in 20 cancer diagnoses in Europe and the United States were due to alcohol consumption, and this percentage is increasing over time. The numbers challenge the widespread perception that alcohol is a benign social lubricant. some well behaved the study Relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.
However, this is not just a story about the present, but also about the future. The report highlights a worrying trend in the rising incidence of certain cancers among young adults. It’s a plot twist that researchers like me are still trying to understand, but alcohol consumption has emerged as a potential frontrunner on the list of causes.
Of particular concern are the Early-onset colorectal cancer The report said it increased by 1.9% annually between 2011 and 2019.
Although the exact causes of this trend are still being investigated, studies consistently show an association between frequent and regular drinking in early adulthood and middle adulthood and an increased risk of colon and rectal cancer. I am. later in life. However, it is also important to understand that this story is not a tragedy.
Rather, it is a cautionary tale with the possibility of a hopeful ending. Unlike many risk factors for cancer, alcohol consumption is something we can control. Reducing or eliminating alcohol intake reduces risk and provides a form of empowerment in the face of unpredictable disease.
The relationship between alcohol and cancer risk generally follows a dose-response pattern. This simply means that higher levels of alcohol consumption are associated with greater risk. Even light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of some cancers, especially breast cancer.
However, while alcohol increases the risk of cancer, it is important to remember that not all drinkers will develop cancer. Many factors are involved in the development of cancer.
damage DNA
The story doesn’t end with these numbers. It extends to the cells of our body, and that’s where alcohol’s journey begins. When we drink alcohol, our bodies break down alcohol into: acetaldehydea substance that can damage DNA, the blueprint for our cells. This means alcohol can potentially rewrite our DNA, causing changes called . mutationwhich can cause cancer.
The story becomes even more complex when you consider the different ways alcohol interacts with our bodies. It can impair the absorption of nutrients and vitamins, change hormone levels, and even make it easier for harmful chemicals to enter the cells of your mouth and throat. It can affect the bacteria in our gut, the so-called microbiome, that we live with and are important for our health. health and happiness.
