Many people are unaware of the significant impact alcohol consumption can have on breast cancer risk.
There is no acceptable degree of alcohol consumption. The risk of breast cancer rises with each unit of alcohol consumed per day. More than 10% of alcohol-related cancer cases in the Region result from consuming just one bottle of beer (500 ml) or two small glasses of wine (100 ml each) every day. The rate is significantly higher for breast cancer, accounting for one in every four incidences of alcohol-related breast cancer in the region.
People need to understand that by lowering their alcohol use, they can lower their risk of developing cancer.
Some of the reasons are :
Hormone Levels: Alcohol can raise levels of estrogen and other hormones linked to hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Higher hormone levels can encourage the growth of breast cancer cells.
DNA Damage: Alcohol can damage the DNA in cells, resulting in the development of cancer.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Chronic alcohol intake can cause nutritional deficiencies, including folate insufficiency, which is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer.
Liver Function: Alcohol metabolism in the liver can produce toxic compounds that damage DNA and raise the risk of cancer.
Immune System: Alcohol intake can weaken the immune system, reducing its ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
The risk of breast cancer increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Even low levels of alcohol consumption have been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.