Cancer Doctors: Drink Less Alcohol

The nation’s largest group of cancer doctors has come out with advice that many Americans may not want to hear: drinking alcohol increases the risk of getting certain cancers.

The recommendations mark the first time the American Society of Clinical Oncology has released a position statement on alcohol consumption.

Noelle LoConte, author of ASCO’s statement and associate professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said even low levels of alcohol increase the risk of cancer. But the greatest risk is heavy long-term drinking.

Her advice to patients?

“Drink less — if you don’t drink, don’t start,” she said.

The organization’s statement comes at a time when Wisconsin ranks third nationally in heavy and binge drinking. State health officials also say heavy drinking is becoming increasingly more common among the elderly. While the state grapples with growing issues related to heavy drinking, the state Legislature is considering a bill that would lower the drinking age in Wisconsin to 19 years old.

The findings published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology last week, show even light drinking can increase the risk of breast and esophageal cancer. The chances of getting other types of cancer (mouth, throat, voice box, colorectal and liver) are greater for heavy drinkers.

But the findings are not something that are widely known. A nationwide survey done by ASCO showed only 30 percent of those asked could identify alcohol as a cancer risk.

In the statement, the group outlined policy recommendations designed to reduce drinking, including higher taxes on alcohol, limiting the locations that sell alcohol and limiting the hours it’s sold. The group also questioned how alcohol is marketed, coming out against so-called “pinkwashing” — using pink ribbons to symbolize the movement to find a cure for breast cancer .

“You know given the strengthening association between alcohol and breast cancer it just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It’s sort of like selling cigarettes to raise awareness for lung cancer,” said LoConte.

Cancer doctors say the kind of alcohol — beer, wine, liquor — doesn’t matter. It all contains ethanol which is converted in the body to a known carcinogen, acetaldehyde.