Each year in the US, about 20,000 adults die from alcohol-related cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, alcohol use accounts for about 6% of all cancers, and 4% of all cancer deaths in the US. Last week, the US Surgeon General recommended changing the warning labels on alcohol to include the increased risk of cancer. Last week, we talked about the multiple types of cancers that are increased by alcohol use. Today, we will talk about the different ways that alcohol can increase cancer risk.
How does alcohol increase the risk of cancer?
There are several ways that alcohol can affect cancer risk. This can depend on the type of cancer. We understand some of the reasons, but there are likely several other ways it can affect cancer risk that we don’t yet understand. Let’s talk about the ways alcohol can raise cancer risk that we do know about.Alcohol causes direct damage to body tissues. This can happen in several ways, including:
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When alcohol is metabolized by the body, one of the byproducts of that metabolism is a chemical called acetaldehyde. Research has shown that this chemical damages DNA. When DNA is damaged, a cell can grow out of control and become cancer.
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Alcohol irritates body cells, particularly in the mouth and throat. Once a cell is damaged by an irritant, it has to repair itself. Frequent cell repair can lead to cancer.
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Alcohol can also lead to the production of “free radicals” due to the oxidative stress it causes within the internal metabolism of cells. Free radicals are unstable molecules, which can damage DNA,
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Alcohol and its byproducts can cause significant damage to liver cells, which leads to inflammation and scarring in the liver. This process can also lead to DNA damage.
Alcohol magnifies the effects of other harmful chemicals, in ways such as:
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Alcohol helps harmful chemicals enter the cells lining the upper part of the digestive tract and respiratory tract, including the multiple carcinogens in tobacco smoke.
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Alcohol slows the body’s ability to metabolize and get rid of some harmful chemicals.
Alcohol affects the body’s ability to absorb some nutrients, including:
- Folate – A vitamin that is very important in keeping body cells healthy. Low folate levels may play a role in the risk of some cancers, including breast and colorectal cancer.
Alcohol affects levels of estrogen and other hormones, including:
- Estrogen levels are increased by alcohol. Because estrogen affects the growth and development of breast tissue, higher than normal levels can affect a woman’s risk of breast cancer.
Alcohol affects a person’s body weight.
- Alcohol can add a significant number of extra calories to the diet, which can lead to weight gain for some people. Being overweight or obese is a known risk factor for many types of cancer.
We know that alcohol intake increases the risk of multiple types of cancer. This is true for all types of alcohol, including beer, wine, and liquor. I hope this information helps you to make more informed decisions about alcohol intake.
If you have any questions about cancer caused by alcohol, please log into your account and send us your question. We are here to help.
Dr. Anita Bennett MD – Health Tip Content Editor