My Breakthrough
23 MAY 2008
Does drinking alcohol increase the risk of breast cancer?
On Monday 19th May, the Department of Health launched a new health campaign, Know Your Limits, to highlight the health problems that could be caused by regularly drinking too much alcohol.
They warn that women who regularly exceed the recommended limit of 2-3 units per day could be at increased risk of developing breast cancer.
This risk increases by a further 6% for each additional unit of alcohol consumed on a daily basis. For example, if you drink two units per day each and every day of your adult life your risk of breast cancer increases by about 12%. [1]
Current evidence suggests that all types of alcohol, including wine, beer and spirits, are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
It is not possible to predict exactly who will get breast cancer. But we do know that, on average, women of all ages who drink alcohol have a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer than those women who do not.
Unlike many other established breast cancer risk factors, alcohol consumption is something we can change. The important message is to be aware of how many units of alcohol you are consuming and to drink in moderation.
[1] These figures are estimates and reflect the incidence of breast cancer in the UK population and the size of alcoholic units in the UK.
They warn that women who regularly exceed the recommended limit of 2-3 units per day could be at increased risk of developing breast cancer.
What does this mean?
We know that regularly drinking alcohol can slightly increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Drinking, on average, one unit of alcohol per day increases a woman's risk of breast cancer by about 6%. This is the same as saying that for every 100 women who drink one unit of alcohol per day there will be one extra case of breast cancer compared to 100 women who don't drink alcohol.Number of units of alcohol in common drinks:
- A pint of ordinary strength lager, bitter or cider = 2 units
- A pint of strong lager = 3 units
- A 175ml glass of wine = around 2 units
- A pub measure of spirits = 1 unit
- An alcopop = around 1.5 units
This risk increases by a further 6% for each additional unit of alcohol consumed on a daily basis. For example, if you drink two units per day each and every day of your adult life your risk of breast cancer increases by about 12%. [1]
Current evidence suggests that all types of alcohol, including wine, beer and spirits, are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
It is not possible to predict exactly who will get breast cancer. But we do know that, on average, women of all ages who drink alcohol have a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer than those women who do not.
Unlike many other established breast cancer risk factors, alcohol consumption is something we can change. The important message is to be aware of how many units of alcohol you are consuming and to drink in moderation.
Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risk: The Facts
Breakthrough has produced a factsheet Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risk: The Facts with more information about the link between alcohol and breast cancer risk.[1] These figures are estimates and reflect the incidence of breast cancer in the UK population and the size of alcoholic units in the UK.
