A large US study has linked alcohol consumption to an increased risk of the most common type of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
The analysis of data from more than 184 000 women is the biggest of three major studies to conclude that drinking raises the risk of breast cancer for older women, Jasmine Lew, a researcher at the National Cancer Institute and the study's lead investigator said.
Advertisement
The research found that women who had one to two small drinks a day were 32 percent more likely to develop a hormone-sensitive tumour. Three or more drinks a day raised the risk by 51 percent.
"Regardless of the type of alcohol, the risk was evident," said Lew, presenting the findings at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Women should talk to doctors about risk
About 70 percent of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have tumours that are positive for both the oestrogen and progesterone receptors.
Lew said results from the NCI study lend credence to the theory that alcohol's interference with the metabolism of oestrogen raises the risk of cancer. She said it was too early to make public health recommendations, but said women should talk with their doctors to assess risk factors and consider lifestyle changes.
Other studies have linked light consumption of alcoholic drinks, especially red wine, to heart protection.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer killer of women, after lung cancer. It will be diagnosed in 1.2 million people globally this year and will kill 500 000. – (Reuters Health)
Bookmark with:
What are social bookmarks?