Is Alcohol Linked To Cancer?

This may not be something to toast to but recent headlines warn that alcohol may raise your risk for certain cancers. A new study calculated that about ten percent of cancers in men and three percent of cancers in women might be linked to alcohol.

A team of researchers found that overall cancer risk increases with every extra daily drink, at least in regular drinkers. They also discovered that certain cancers were particularly alcohol-related, such as cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract (including mouth, throat and esophagus), liver, colon and breast.

The researchers said about five percent of breast cancers in women may be attributed to alcohol. According to the American Cancer Society, drinking may change women’s estrogen levels and increase the risk of breast cancer. That being said, alcohol is still known to have some health benefits. One drink a day for women has been linked to a lower risk in heart disease. At least we can say “cheers” to that.