deaths, particularly for the mortality from breast cancer and upper airway and esophageal cancer.
David E. Nelson from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, USA and colleagues metaanalysed data published lately on the association between alcohol consumption and cancer deaths and found drinking alcohol was responsible for 3.2% to 3.7% of all U.S. Cancer death.
The study was based on meta-analyses published since 2000 and adult alcohol consumption data from a few national surveys on alcohol consumption. T he data suggested that alcohol consumption led to an estimated 18,200 to 21,300 cancer deaths, which represented 3.2 to 3.7% of all U.S. cancer deaths.
The cancers that were highly affected by alcohol consumption were breast cancer and upper airway and esophageal cancer. Alcohol drinking was responsible for 56 to 66% of all breast cancer deaths and 53 to 71% of upper airway and esophageal cancer deaths.
And the researchers were able to estimate that alcohol-attributable cancers resulted in 17.0 to 19.1 years of potential life lost (Y PLL) for each death.
Specifically daily consumption of up to 20 grams of alcohol, or less than 1.5 drinks per day was responsible for 26 to 35% of alcohol-attributable cancer deaths.
The researchers concluded "Alcohol remains a major contributor to cancer mortality and Y PLL. Higher consumption increases risk but there is no safe threshold for alcohol and cancer risk. Reducing alcohol consumption is an important and underemphasized cancer prevention strategy."
Alcoholic beverages have been recognized as a human carcinogen by the National T oxicology Program although the majority of the public may not be aware of risk from alcohol.
In the United States, one in eight women are expected to develop breast cancer in their life time. Breast cancer in many cases is preventable.
Alcohol has been recognized as a significant risk factor for breast cancer.
