Alcohol Use and Cancer

Long-term alcohol use can cause many severe health problems, including the risk of  developing mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon and breast cancer. Cancer expert Anton Bilchik further explains how primary liver cancer is associated with alcohol use. Heavy, regular alcohol use can severely damage the liver, which leads to inflammation. This inflammation of the liver may increase the risk of liver cancer. You are probably wondering if the type of drink that you choose to consume affects your chances.

Beer, wine and liquor all contain ethanol, in different percentages. It is the amount of alcohol consumed over time, and not the type of beverage, that seems to play an important role in increasing a person’s cancer risk.

There are several ways in which alcohol intake can raise your cancer risk, and this might also depend on the type of cancer. These include:

• Damaging body tissues: Alcohol is an irritant, especially in the throat. Damaged cells may try to repair themselves, which often leads to DNA changes in the cells that can lead to cancer. When the liver is damaged by excessive alcohol intake, inflammation and scarring occurs.
• Alcohol affects estrogen and other hormones: Alcohol increases the body’s levels of estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone central to the growth and development of breast tissue. This leads to an increased risk of breast cancer for both men and women.

Anton Bilchik can further explain how alcohol affects cancer risk and suggest preventative measures to take both during and after treatment. Understanding what puts you at risk can help prevent the growth of certain cancers within the body.