A new study shows that drinking alcohol causes six types of cancer, accounting for more than 5% of all cancer cases. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)’s 2024 Cancer Progress Report states that alcohol is the third risk factor for cancer after obesity and cigarette smoking.

The report states that 40% of all cancer cases are associated with “modifiable risk factors”, which means that these risk factors can be very easily prevented if we change our lifestyle. Among these, alcohol consumption is prominent.

The six types of cancer associated with alcohol consumption include:

• head and neck cancer
• esophageal cancer
• liver cancer
• breast cancer
• Colorectal/colon cancer
• stomach cancer

Researchers estimate that exposure to certain cancer risk factors has become more prevalent in recent decades.

These include a diet rich in highly processed foods, alcohol, tobacco, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, environmental carcinogens, and an unfavorable microbiome, which are playing a role in the increased incidence of early cancer.

“Accordingly, it is important for each country and region to conduct studies to understand the causes of early cancer and to design public health strategies based on local characteristics and the burden of early cancer,” according to the report.

Dr. Adam Scioli, addiction psychiatrist at Caron Treatment Centers, points out that although there have been reports for years about how much alcohol can be beneficial to health, “we now know that alcohol consumption is one of the modifiable risk factors for cancer.” Is.”

The report states that approximately 20% of American cancer diagnoses are related to excess body weight, unhealthy dietary patterns, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity.

Physical activity and obesity, which are linked to heavy drinking, also separately increase cancer risk, according to Justin Stebbing, professor of biomedical sciences at Anglia Ruskin University.

“Despite this, misconceptions persist. The type of alcoholic beverage, whether it is beer, wine or spirits, does not significantly change cancer risk. It is the ethanol (the chemical name of alcohol) itself that is carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Doer) Stebbing wrote in The Conversation.

Some studies may suggest that red wine may have a protective effect against certain diseases, but there is no clear evidence that it helps prevent cancer.

“Research shows that people who reduce their alcohol intake or stop drinking altogether may have an 8% lower risk of developing alcohol-related cancer than those who continue to drink alcohol. “The risk of all types of cancer may be reduced by 4% compared to those who do not have or increase their risk.” The report said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) previously stated that alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, including the most common cancer types, such as bowel cancer and breast cancer. According to WHO, “Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive and dependence-causing substance.” The health agency said no level of alcohol is safe for our health.

Rajarshi Sengupta, lead author of the AARC report, called for awareness campaigns and the imposition of cancer-specific warning labels on alcoholic beverages.