Alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen, which means that there is enough evidence to show that alcohol causes cancer. Other group 1 carcinogens include UV radiation and tobacco smoke. Alcohol causes 3.3% of cancer cases in the UK, which is around 11,900 cases per year. To put this in context, tobacco smoking causes 15% of cancer cases in the UK.The evidence shows that any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer, but drinking 14 units a week or less will keep the risk low. Evidence shows that any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer, but drinking 14 units a week or less will keep the risk low.For some cancers, any amount of alcohol increases the risk. For other types of cancer, the risk only increases after drinking two or three drinks per day – around 26 to 35 units per week.Any amount of alcohol increases the risk of:Mouth cancerUpper throat and voice box cancerFood pipe (oesophagus) cancerBreast cancerDrinking two or more drinks per day (around 3.5 units) increases the risk of:Colorectal cancerDrinking three or more drinks per day (around five units) increases the risk of:Stomach cancerLiver cancerAlcohol increases the risk of these cancers by different amounts. If you were drinking every day, every 10 grams of pure alcohol (around one drink or 1.25 units) would increase the risk of these cancers by the following amounts, compared to if you were not drinking:Mouth and throat cancer by around 15%Oesophagus cancer by 25%Breast cancer by 7%Colorectal cancer by 7%Liver cancer by 4%Stomach cancer by 2%To put these figures into context, a woman drinking between 14 and 35 units per week, has a 15% chance of developing breast cancer, compared to an 11% chance if she didn’t drink at all. Similarly, a man drinking up to 14 units per week has a 0.6% chance of developing colorectal cancer, which rises to an 11% chance if he drinks over 35 units per week.Alcohol causes around 11,900 cases of cancer per year in the UK.
Nearly 500 North East adults a year dying from cancers due to alcohol
Back in 2023 a campaign by Balance called “Alcohol is Toxic” was launched. This was supported by Cancer Research UK and local authorities to warn alcohol is a direct cause of 7 types of cancer – including bowel, breast, liver throat and mouth cancer.Only 1 in 3 people in the North East are aware that alcohol causes cancer and yet nearly half (47%) of adults are drinking above the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of no more than 14 units a week – enough to significantly raise their risks.It also comes as the UK topped global charts for binge drinking among women– defined as having at least six drinks in a single session – with 26% doing this at least once a month.This powerful new creative from Balance is unlike any campaign ever seen before for alcohol in the UK and follows the journey of alcohol through the body, mutating cells and leading to the formation of a tumour. It has been developed with input from doctors to depict the evidence on how alcohol causes cancer.People are being encouraged to visit the ReduceMyRisk.tvwebsite to find free advice and tools to cut down and links to local alcohol support services. Latest figures around alcohol and cancer reveal:Nearly 500 deaths (483) from cancer as a result of alcohol in 2019 in the North East.Up to 1,640 men every two years diagnosed with an alcohol-related cancer in the North East. The most common cancer for men with known associations with alcohol is bowel cancer.Up to 1,580 women every two years diagnosed with an alcohol-related cancer in the North East. The most common cancer for women with known associations with alcohol is breast cancer.Alcohol is estimated to have caused around 740,000 new cases of cancer a year globally and 17,000 in the UK in 2020The World Health Organisationwarns there is “no safe amount” of alcohol for health with the risks starting from the first drop.
The Dreaded “C” Word
The Liver Life Project
Alcohol Induced Cancer
Alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen, whichmeans that there is enough evidenceto show that alcohol causes cancer.Other group 1 carcinogens include UVradiation and tobacco smoke. Alcoholcauses 3.3% of cancer cases in the UK,which is around 11,900 cases per year. To put this in context, tobacco smoking causes 15% of cancer cases in the UK.The evidence shows that any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer, but drinking 14 units a week or less will keep the risk low. Evidence shows that any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer, but drinking 14 units a week or less will keep the risk low.For some cancers, any amount of alcohol increases the risk. For other types of cancer, the risk only increases after drinking two or three drinks per day – around 26 to 35 units per week.Any amount of alcohol increases the risk of:Mouth cancerUpper throat and voice box cancerFood pipe (oesophagus) cancerBreast cancerDrinking two or more drinks per day (around 3.5 units) increases the risk of:Colorectal cancerDrinking three or more drinks per day (around five units) increases the risk of:Stomach cancerLiver cancerAlcohol increases the risk of these cancers by different amounts. If you were drinking every day, every 10 grams of pure alcohol (around one drink or 1.25 units) would increase the risk of these cancers by the following amounts, compared to if you were not drinking:Mouth and throat cancer by around 15%Oesophagus cancer by 25%Breast cancer by 7%Colorectal cancer by 7%Liver cancer by 4%Stomach cancer by 2%To put these figures into context, a woman drinking between 14 and 35 units per week, has a 15% chance of developing breast cancer, compared to an 11% chance if she didn’t drink at all. Similarly, a man drinking up to 14 units per week has a 0.6% chance of developing colorectal cancer, which rises to an 11% chance if he drinks over 35 units per week. Alcohol causes around 11,900 cases of cancer per year in the UK.
Nearly 500 North East adults a year dying from cancers due to alcohol
Back in 2023 a campaign by Balance called“Alcohol is Toxic” was launched. This wassupported by Cancer Research UK and local authorities to warnalcohol is a direct cause of 7 types ofcancer – including bowel, breast, liverthroat and mouth cancer.Only 1 in 3 people in the North East areaware that alcohol causes cancer and yet nearly half (47%) of adults are drinking above the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of no more than 14 units a week – enough to significantly raise their risks.It also comes as the UK topped global charts for binge drinking among women – defined as having at least six drinks in a single session – with 26% doing this at least once a month.This powerful new creative from Balance is unlike any campaign ever seen before for alcohol in the UK and follows the journey of alcohol through the body, mutating cells and leading to the formation of a tumour. It has been developed with input from doctors to depict the evidence on how alcohol causes cancer. People are being encouraged to visit the ReduceMyRisk.tv website to find free advice and tools to cut down and links to local alcohol support services.Latest figures around alcohol and cancer reveal:Nearly 500 deaths (483) from cancer as a result of alcohol in 2019 in the North East.Up to 1,640 men every two years diagnosed with an alcohol-related cancer in the North East. The most common cancer for men with known associations with alcohol is bowel cancer.Up to 1,580 women every two years diagnosed with an alcohol-related cancer in the North East. The most common cancer forwomen with known associations with alcohol is breast cancer.Alcohol is estimated to have caused around 740,000 new cases of cancer a year globally and 17,000 in the UK in 2020The World Health Organisationwarns there is “no safe amount” of alcohol for health with the risks starting from the first drop.