V1N1P11

What are the Facts About Alcohol and
Breast Cancer?



The role of alcohol and breast cancer in
women is a very important and 
controversial topic. To date, over 15
worldwide studies have attempted to
identify whether or not such a relation-
ship exists. Over half of these studies
reflect no relationship whatsoever
between alcohol consumption and
breast cancer risk. The other studies
suggest that women who consume
more than two drinks per day may have a
20-50% higher risk of developing
breast cancer than non-drinkers. This
means the following: a young woman
has an average lifetime risk of about 8%
of developing breast cancer. If moderate
alcohol consumption were to be a risk
factor, it would increase that risk to
12%. Significantly, those studies pur-
porting to show an increased risk of
breast cancer among drinkers show an
inconsistent relationship between breast
cancer risk and the level of alcohol
consumption. Other variables, such as
diet, smoking, and caffeine, have been
implicated and may provide a 
synergistic effect. Heredity, different
beverage types, and drinking patterns
are also likely to be significant factors.
Importantly, in animal studies, no
evidence reveals that alcohol 
consumption increases the risk of breast
cancer. Moreover, no scientific studies
have suggested a plausible mechanism
by which alcohol might induce breast
cancer. The absence of animal models
or plausible mechanisms poses a strong
argument against the causative effect of
alcohol.

At present, the bulk of the evidence
does not argue convincingly that
alcohol is a risk factor for breast cancer.

The most proven method of lowering
the risk of death from breast cancer is to
be regularly monitored through appro-
priate medical check-ups. Women of
child-bearing age can further help
themselves by knowing the facts about
breast cancer, monitoring themselves
and consulting with their physicians
about new advances in cancer
prevention.

SOURCES
Harris RE, Wynder EL; breast cancer and
Alcohol consumption: A Study on Weak
Associations; JAMA 1988; 259: 2867-71.

Longnecker MP, et al.; A Met-Analysis of
Alcohol Consumption in Relation to Risk of
breast cancer; JAMA 1988; 260: 652-656.