Less than a pint a day linked to an ‘increased risk of SEVEN cancers’
BOOZING even just a little bit boosts your risk of SEVEN cancers, experts have warned.
Granted, most people won't want to give it up for good, but a new study suggests we should all think before we drink.
Light, moderate or heavy drinking is linked with an increased risk of cancer of the liver, breast, bowel and oesophagus, mouth, throat and larynx.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology warns five to six per cent of new cancers and cancer deaths globally are directly linked to alcohol.
And while that sounds like a small percentage, Cancer Research UK estimates 8.2million people lost their lives to cancer in 2012.
So, in around half a million of those cases, booze can be blamed for the cancer patient's death, the ASCO suggests.
It comes after scientists proved for the first time earlier this year that booze does cause tumours to grow.
ASCO president Bruce Johnson, said: "People typically don't associate drinking beer, wine and hard liquor with increasing their risk of developing cancer in their lifetimes.
"However, the link between increased alcohol consumption and cancer has been firmly established and gives the medical community guidance on how to help their patients reduce their risk of cancer."
In the UK the recommended guidelines encourage men and women to drink no more than 14 units of booze a week.
That equates to downing more than seven pints or supping on seven glasses of wine a week.
The ASCO said they are "particularly concerned" that so few people are aware of the fact booze can cause cancer, with 70 per cent of Americans admitting to be clueless to the risk.
Their findings show just 38 per cent of people are limiting their alcohol intake to reduce their risk of cancer.
BOOZE RULES What is a unit of alcohol, how many units in a pint and glass of wine and how much should we be drinking a week?
The ASCO said governments need to take action to help people reduce their boozing ways.
Among the measures they suggest include increasing taxes and prices of alcohol, restrict kids' exposure to ads featuring alcoholic drinks and provide alcohol screening and interventions in doctor's surgeries and hospitals.
Dr Noelle LoConte, from the University of Wisconsin and lead author of the ASCO statement, said: "ASCO joins a growing number of cancer care and public health organisations in recognising that even moderate alcohol use can cause cancer.
"Therefore, limiting alcohol intake is a means to prevent cancer.
"The good news is that, just like people wear sunscreen to limit their risk of skin cancer, limiting alcohol intake is one more thing people can do to reduce their overall risk of developing cancer."
Dr LoConte and her team warn not only does excessive boozing cause cancer, it can also delay or negatively impact on a patient's cancer treatment.
The new findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
MORE ON CANCER
