Alcohol and cancer

The relationship between alcohol and cancer is not simple. Drinking alcoholic beverages, especially along with tobacco smoking, increases the risk of cancersof the mouth, esophagus, pharynx, larynxand liverin men, and of breast cancerin women, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute[1].

Fortunately, except for breast cancer, these cancers are all rare. Moderate consumption doesn?t increase the risk of the most common cancers, except for breast cancer, as listed by the National Cancer Institute alphabetically:

• Bladder Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Endometrial Cancer
• Kidney Cancer(Renal cell carcinoma)
• Leukemia
• Lung Cancer
• Melanoma
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Ovarian Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Skin Cancer(Non-Melanoma)

The relationship between alcohol and breast cancer is unclear and controversial. However, women who drink alcohol and have a high (200 microgram) folate(folic acid or Vitamin B9) intake are not at increased risk of breast cancer compared to those who abstain from alcohol, according to an exhaustive review of the research evidence. Foods rich in folate include citrus fruits, citrus juices, dark green leafy vegetables (such as spinach), dried beans, and peas. Vitamin B9 can also be taken in pill form.

It?s always important to balance relative health risks. About half of Americans die of heart attacks. Moderate drinking reduces the risk of heart attacks by about 40%. Any increase in risk of an uncommon cancer needs to viewed in relation to the benefits of moderate drinking on reducing a major threat to health and long life.

Balancing such risks is a personal decision that should be discussed with one?s own physician.

Sources

• Alcohol & Cancer
• National Cancer Institute
• Alcohol and Cancer
• Drinking Alcohol and Cancer Risk

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol+and+cancer Wikipedia article Alcohol and cancer.