There’s evidence that alcohol contributes to a variety of cancers. So in both men and women, it is associated with an increased risk of cancers of the mouth and throat. Often, drinking goes along with smoking so how much of it is contributed by the drinking and how much is the smoking is a little bit hard to tease apart. It’s also associated with a higher rate of cancers of the oesophagus.
And in women, interestingly, it’s associated with higher rates of breast cancer. Presumably by a hormonal mechanism, although I don’t think we know precisely how that occurs.
Professor Michael Boyer is Medical Oncologist at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse
