Natasha Wallace Health
Reporter
May 8, 2008
ALCOHOL is one of the
most well-established causes of cancer and there is no safe level of
consumption, the Cancer Institute NSW has concluded after an
extensive analysis of worldwide research.
The state
government agency will today release a new report on the strong link
between alcohol consumption and cancer, highlighting alarmingly high
rates of risk from just two drinks a day.
The institute says
alcohol is particularly linked to cancer of the upper-aero digestive
tract, breast, colorectum, liver and stomach.
Its report,
Alcohol As A Cause Of Cancer, says the risk of cancer in the
upper-aero digestive tract is increased by 40 per cent (voicebox)
and by 75 per cent (mouth and pharynx) from two alcoholic drinks a
day.
The risk of breast
cancer is 11 to 22 per cent higher in women that drink than in
non-drinkers.
Four drinks a day
increased a man's risk of bowel cancer by 64 per cent.
The institute said
there was convincing evidence that heavy consumption increased the
risk of liver cancer, starting at about 17 per cent from two drinks
a day. There was a modest increase of 7 per cent in the risk of
stomach cancer from two drinks a day.
High alcohol
consumption, of about eight drinks a day, increased the risk at any
site by 90 per cent.
"This report …
presents the results from a systematic review of the world's
literature on alcohol and cancer and clearly shows that the
consumption of alcohol, even at moderate levels, is associated with
an increased risk of several cancers," the chief executive officer
of the institute, Professor Jim Bishop, said.
Bowel and breast
cancer are the second- and third-most common cancers in NSW.
"This report
suggests that encouraging a reduction of alcohol consumption should
be part of our strategy for cancer prevention in NSW," Professor
Bishop said.
The NSW Minister
assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), Verity Firth, said the
link between alcohol consumption and cancer had been overlooked in
the recent debate about binge drinking.
Ms Firth said a
separate institute study in February this year showed only 44 per
cent of NSW residents were aware of any link between alcohol and
cancer.
"Worryingly, a
third of NSW adults actively reject the notion that drinking too
much can cause cancer," Ms Firth said.
"This report is
about increasing the public's knowledge to help people make better
choices about their health."
At least 70 per
cent of NSW adults drank alcohol, with about 18 per cent drinking at
risky or high-risk levels, she said.
Professor Bishop
said many people could reduce their risk.
"Cancer could be
prevented in about 35 per cent of cases by modifying behaviour," he
said.
The Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that excessive alcohol
consumption may be responsible for 30 to 50 per cent of all cancers
of the upper-respiratory tract and more than one-third of all liver
cancers.
Last week, the
State Government announced an anti-alcohol program for students in
year 3 to year 6.
The National Health
and Medical Research Council is reviewing its guidelines on alcohol
consumption, with a draft recommendation that men and women not
consume more than two drinks a day. |