Would this make you stop drinking? (New study links alcohol consumption to cancer)

Logical Fallacy

Personally i don't drink but if i did i have to say the below probably wouldn't make me give up. As someone who smokes it would be hypocritical of me to assume it would.


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0408/breaking11.html

Up to one in 10 cancers in men and one in 33 in women across Western Europe could be caused by drinking, according to new research.

While even small amounts increases the risk, drinking above recommended limits may be responsible for the majority of cancer cases linked to alcohol, experts said.

And even former drinkers who have now quit are still at risk of cancer, including of the oesophagus, breast, mouth and bowel.

The new research, published in the British Medical Journal , found cancer risks at even lower levels.

Experts analysed data from eight European countries and worked out what proportion of men and women were drinking above guidelines of 24g of alcohol a day for men and 12g a day for women.

Men and women in Germany, Denmark and the Uk were most likely to exceed recommended guidelines, according to the study.

Overall, 3 per cent of cancers in men were linked to drinking less than 24g of alcohol a day but more than 18 per cent were down to drinking more than 24g a day.

In women, 1 per cent of cancers were down to drinking less than 12g of alcohol a day while 4 per cent were due to drinking more than 12g of alcohol daily.

Some 17 per cent of bowel cancers in men were linked to drinking as were 4 per cent of cases in women.

And 5 per cent of breast cancers in women were also down to drinking, the study showed.

Even more cancers were thought to be partly attributable to drinking, and for every additional drink a day, the risks went up.

The authors, from universities and hospitals across Europe, said: “Our data show that many cancer cases could have been avoided if alcohol consumption is limited to two alcoholic drinks per day in men and one alcoholic drink per day in women, which are the recommendations of many health organisations.

“And even more cancer cases would be prevented if people reduced their alcohol intake to below recommended guidelines or stopped drinking alcohol at all.”

The research is part of the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC), one of the largest-ever studies into the links between diet and cancer.

It involved more than 360,000 men and women who were mostly aged 35 to 70 at the start of the study.

Their alcohol intake at recruitment stage in the 1990s was noted, and the follow-up examined how many developed cancer.

Alcohol creates a chemical when it is broken down by the body which can damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer.

Naomi Allen, from Oxford University, who works on the Epic study, said: “This research supports existing evidence that alcohol causes cancer and that the risk increases even with drinking moderate amounts.

“The results from this study reflect the impact of people’s drinking habits about 10 years ago. People are drinking even more now than then and this could lead to more people developing cancer because of alcohol in the future.”

The study involved data from France, Italy, Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany and Denmark.

Overall, in 2008, current and former alcohol consumption caused about 57,600 cases of cancer of the upper digestive tract, bowel and liver in men across Denmark, Greece, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, it showed.

More than half of these cases were caused by drinking more than two alcoholic drinks per day.

Across all eight countries, some 21,500 cases of upper digestive tract, liver, bowel and breast cancer in women were caused by drinking, of which over 80 per cent was due to more than one drink of beer, wine, or spirits per day.

Hande hoche!

Everything in moderation yadda yadda yadda

super_furry

Nope. There's barely a day goes by where there's not another study claiming something or other gives you cancer.

Saila

breaking news life causes cancer

joshrogan

I need a drink after reading that.

mikom

Up to one in 10 cancers in men and one in 33 in women across Western Europe could be caused by drinking, according to new research.

I'll take my chances.

TheInquisitor

My question would be is this because all of these drinkers were in a smoky environment (especially on the continent) and it was actually the smoking that caused the increase in cancer rates.

Is there any breakdown of this? A study on Irish people over the last 5 years would be more intersting

Logical Fallacy

Saila wrote: »

breaking news life causes cancer

It's a fairly simply question, i'd rather not have this descend into a "sure x,y,z" causes cancer. I am simply wondering if sound medical research indicated the even low levels of drinking can cause cancer would maybe people stop drinking.

It's simply a curiosity thread, i'm gonna assume from your answer you are in the "no" category along with myself.

Logical Fallacy

TheInquisitor wrote: »

My question would be is this because all of these drinkers were in a smoky environment (especially on the continent) and it was actually the smoking that caused the increase in cancer rates.

Is there any breakdown of this? A study on Irish people over the last 5 years would be more intersting

Good question actually but it seems to be hard enough to find proper research on the actual effects of second hand smoke. If you have any links to studies i would really appreciate it.

starlit

We kind of know that anyway. It wouldn't be enough to put me off it unless I had a serious health condition caused by it. There are other things that are are a lot worse than drink that causes it such as smoking, certain diets, chemicals, genes, STRESS I think is the worst culprit over other things! Stress can cause more health risks than anything!

super_furry

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

It's a fairly simply question, i'd rather not have this descend into a "sure x,y,z" causes cancer.

But it can't be helped. There's so much scare-mongering over cancer and the thousands of things that may or may not cause it, that when a report like this comes out it gets added to the every-growing pile, people shrug their shoulders and carry on.

DarkJager

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

It's a fairly simply question, i'd rather not have this descend into a "sure x,y,z" causes cancer. I am simply wondering if sound medical research indicated the even low levels of drinking can cause cancer would maybe people stop drinking.

It's simply a curiosity thread, i'm gonna assume from your answer you are in the "no" category along with myself.

To be honest, with each new study they put out they contribute something to causing cancer or other disease. I remember reading one that said you are more likely to get osophageal cancer if you have a cold drink while you are eating, complete scaremongering. Some of them might be based in fact but others really do chance their arms at trying to establish a link.

At the end of the day, life is full of risks. You might get a slap of a bus or cancer any day but to try and avoid everything that might cause you harm would lead to a very sheltered and paranoid life indeed.

starlit

Doing things in moderation - drink, diet, exercise, sleep etc. Moderation is the key, less or more won't cause or prevent it as everyone is different in their biological make up.

mikom

It was recently discovered that research causes cancer in laboratory rats.

seafood dunleavy

Jesus christ they've linked everything to cancer now.

smk89

snuggles285 wrote: »

We kind of know that anyway. It wouldn't be enough to put me off it unless I had a serious health condition caused by it. There are other things that are are a lot worse than drink that causes it such as smoking, certain diets, chemicals, genes, STRESS I think is the worst culprit over other things! Stress can cause more health risks than anything!

Yeah cause a family history of heart disease counts for nothing.

Uriel.

smk89 wrote: »

Yeah cause a family history of heart disease counts for nothing.

Huh?

Pauleta

A few years ago a study said drinking tea may prevent cancer. A few days later a completely different study said drinking tea may cause cancer. These scientists have to put out some theory every couple of years to keep getting funding and to keep themselves in a job.

Ostrom

http://kill-or-cure.heroku.com/

The above index should prove helpful

Saila

DarkJager wrote: »

To be honest, with each new study they put out they contribute something to causing cancer or other disease. I remember reading one that said you are more likely to get osophageal cancer if you have a cold drink while you are eating, complete scaremongering. Some of them might be based in fact but others really do chance their arms at trying to establish a link.

At the end of the day, life is full of risks. You might get a slap of a bus or cancer any day but to try and avoid everything that might cause you harm would lead to a very sheltered and paranoid life indeed.

Exactly.
Scientists should get out more often..and meet each other and discuss what they are researching and their current 'findings' and maybe it will dawn on them that "hang on a second we both cant be right!"
there is so much conflicting information and if the average person knew how...no forget it actually, believe everything a 'scientist' tells you people :rolleyes:

Hande hoche!

efla wrote: »

http://kill-or-cure.heroku.com/

The above index should prove helpful

Thanks, a very interesting link. Nice to see a summary.

Raging_Ninja

That decides it, I'm never reading again!

daddydick

Seaweed is the only thing that you cant get cancer off

DarkJager

daddydick wrote: »

Seaweed is the only thing that you cant get cancer off

Unless you eat it while drinking alcohol and smoking a joint.

pragmatic1

Biggest single cause of cancer is actually an unbalanced diet. Larger than even smoking.

Hookah

pragmatic1 wrote: »

Biggest single cause of cancer is actually an unbalanced diet. Larger than even smoking.

Eating sandwiches on one leg?

HeadPig

Alcohol is a well documented cause of cancer; this is not breaking news.

pragmatic1 wrote: »

Biggest single cause of cancer is actually an unbalanced diet. Larger than even smoking.

This is wrong.

smk89

Pauleta wrote: »

A few years ago a study said drinking tea may prevent cancer. A few days later a completely different study said drinking tea may cause cancer. These scientists have to put out some theory every couple of years to keep getting funding and to keep themselves in a job.

Tea contains anti oxidants that prevents DNA damage and therefore cancer. But the second study is that if you drink tea without milk the damage to your oesophagus will cause cancer.
Scientists do great work that is constantly misquoted by the public.

HeadPig

smk89 wrote: »

Tea contains anti oxidants that prevents DNA damage and therefore cancer. But the second study is that if you drink tea without milk the damage to your oesophagus will cause cancer.
Scientists do great work that is constantly misquoted by the public.

This man knows what he's talking about.

im invisible

daddydick wrote: »

Seaweed is the only thing that you cant get cancer off

japaneese seaweed is especially good for you

Mrmoe

Reading that article gave me eye cancer.

strobe

No. Fukk cancer. Bring it on.