Home / Health / Alcohol's Deadly Cancer Link Doubles in US
Alcohol's Deadly Cancer Link Doubles in US
3 Sep
Summary
- Proportion of cancer deaths from alcohol doubled in adults over 33 years.
- Even one standard drink daily significantly raises cancer death risk.
- Alcoholic liver cancer deaths rose sharply, especially in older men.
Alcohol's role in U.S. cancer deaths has significantly increased, with the proportion of deaths attributable to alcohol doubling over the past 33 years among adults aged 20 and older. Researchers found that consuming just one standard drink daily can elevate the risk for various cancers, including breast, colon, and liver cancers.
For men aged 55 and older, liver cancer deaths showed the strongest link to alcohol, followed by esophageal and colorectal cancers. In women in the same age group, breast cancer was the leading cause of alcohol-related cancer mortality.
The study, which analyzed U.S. data from 1990 to 2023, indicates that alcohol can contribute to cancer growth by altering hormone levels, damaging DNA, and interfering with nutrient absorption. Experts emphasize that reducing alcohol consumption to the lowest possible level is the best approach for overall health.
