Breast Cancer and Alcohol

There is no such thing as a “safe” amount of alcohol. Even the smallest amount may add to the risk of developing breast cancer. Alcohol is classified as a category 1A carcinogen, just like tobacco and asbestos. One glass of wine increases the risk of getting breast cancer by 10%. One bottle a day, 6 glasses, increases the risk by 70%. The quality of the alcohol is irrelevant; the more you drink, the higher the risk. 

Alcohol can cause cancer in three ways:

1. Alcohol damages our cells. When we drink, our bodies convert it into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which can damage cells and their repair mechanism.

2. Alcohol causes changes in hormonal function. It can increase the levels of certain hormones in the body, such as estrogen and insulin. Hormones are chemical messengers, and high concentrations can cause cells to divide more often, increasing the risk of developing cancer.

3. Alcohol causes changes in the cells of the mouth and throat. Alcohol facilitates the absorption of carcinogenic chemicals into cells in the mouth and throat.

Avoiding or cutting back on alcohol is an important step for many women to lower their risk of breast cancer. If you want to do everything you can to lower your risk, limiting how much alcohol you drink is an important step. You may choose to stop drinking alcohol completely, but if you plan to continue drinking, try to have two or fewer alcoholic drinks per week. Drinking is social for most of us, and the good news is that cutting back on alcohol does not mean cutting back on seeing your friends and family.

https://www.cancer.org/healthy/cancer-causes/diet-physical-activity/alcohol-use-and-cancer.html#:~:text=Breast%20cancer%3A%20Drinking%20even%20small,their%20risk%20of%20breast%20canc