In the News this AM: Alcohol: No safe threshold

CypressCynthia
CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
in Breast Cancer #1

Just published in American Journal of Public Health:

"Objectives. Our goal was to provide current estimates of alcohol-attributable cancer mortality and years of potential life lost (YPLL) in the United States.

Methods. We used 2 methods to calculate population-attributable fractions. We based relative risks on meta-analyses published since 2000, and adult alcohol consumption on data from the 2009 Alcohol Epidemiologic Data System, 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and 2009–2010 National Alcohol Survey.

Results. Alcohol consumption resulted in an estimated 18 200 to 21 300 cancer deaths, or 3.2% to 3.7% of all US cancer deaths. The majority of alcohol-attributable female cancer deaths were from breast cancer (56% to 66%), whereas upper airway and esophageal cancer deaths were more common among men (53% to 71%). Alcohol-attributable cancers resulted in 17.0 to 19.1 YPLL for each death. Daily consumption of up to 20 grams of alcohol (≤ 1.5 drinks) accounted for 26% to 35% of alcohol-attributable cancer deaths.

Conclusions. Alcohol remains a major contributor to cancer mortality and YPLL. Higher consumption increases risk but there is no safe threshold for alcohol and cancer risk. Reducing alcohol consumption is an important and underemphasized cancer prevention strategy. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print February 14, 2013: e1-e8. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2012.301199)"



Read More: http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2012.301199?journalCode=ajph

 

 

Comments

  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #2
    Thank you.....

    for sharing this important information Cynthia. I never drink alcohol, not even wine. I still got dx at 32 though. But alcohol is responsible for many health conditions and it won't go away. I want to read about second-hand smoking for cancer patients. I never smoked in my life, but I live in a building and I know people smoke in their apts. Sometimes I smell it in my apt. UGH. I wonder how risky this is.

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #3
    I am 53 yrs old and have

    I am 53 yrs old and have never tasted Alchol ever. I bartended for years...

     

    ODD I know..hehe lol

     

    denise

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #4
    Alcohol is not just a risk

    Alcohol is not just a risk factor in getting the disease but a major risk factor in whether you will survive the disease.  It took me about ten years to finally get it through my head that breast cancer and alcohol don't mix, but I am now a believer that this is something easily avoided that can help us better fight our disease.  Funny, as hard as I fought it, I never think about it anymore.  Just part of my treatment.

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #5
    New leaf? Maybe...

    I'm no longer going to argue the point Smile as I have been reading some about this of course in waiting rooms of medical places.

    In my case, I don't have to worry about cancer risk.  I do enjoy my occassional glass of wine or beer.  Tongue Out

    Now that I'm really going back to treatment, it is the one thing I won't have.  

    I didn't mix it the first time around and won't be mixing it this time either.

    I really can imagine how mad my poor liver would be if I added alcohol to a toxic mix.  YellYell  My liver would use language that would make sailors  blush.  Embarassed

    Doris

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #6
    CypressCynthia said:

    Alcohol is not just a risk

    Alcohol is not just a risk factor in getting the disease but a major risk factor in whether you will survive the disease.  It took me about ten years to finally get it through my head that breast cancer and alcohol don't mix, but I am now a believer that this is something easily avoided that can help us better fight our disease.  Funny, as hard as I fought it, I never think about it anymore.  Just part of my treatment.

    Part of Treatment

    It will be part of mine too.  I am certain that I won't even feel like it.  

     

    Doris

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