Alcohol and cancer are a much talked about combination. Find out how excessive alcohol consumption can cause some types of cancer.
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The relationship between alcohol and cancer it is medical evidence. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can potentiate some types of diseases that, at the limit, can be fatal.
There are seven types of cancer that are directly linked to alcohol. Find out what they are and start taking the exact measures to prevent serious problems.
Alcohol and Cancer: What’s the Connection?
alcohol and cancer are two aspects that definitely do not match. However, according to an investigation by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO – American Society for Clinical Oncology), there is a direct relationship between the intake of alcoholic beverages and cancer.
Contrary to what many people think, it is not just excessive alcohol consumption that can cause serious complications for our health and well-being. Incidentally, this American study reveals that even moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages can be associated with the appearance of seven types of cancer.
In view of society, and the wrong lifestyle habits that have been adopted by the general population, alcohol truly represents a threat to our health. In fact, the consumption of any amount of alcohol automatically increases the chances of getting cancer. Of course, the more alcohol you consume, the higher your risk of getting cancer.
Did you know that alcohol causes more than 6% of cancers and deaths worldwide? For this same reason, oncologists warn the population to reduce or even completely avoid the intake of any type of alcoholic beverage.
7 types of cancer associated with alcohol consumption
According to research carried out by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, there are seven types of cancer that have their origin in the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
liver cancer
This type of cancer is caused by cirrhosis, which in turn is caused by excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages of any kind.
What happens is that when cirrhosis develops, liver cells that are healthy are automatically replaced by damaged scar tissue cells, which can even turn into cancerous cells.
This type of cancer is characterized by severe abdominal pain.
breast cancer
As we already know, one of the visible signs of this type of cancer is the change in the appearance of the breast area.
In women, when estrogen levels become completely abnormal (that is to say high), this hormone puts them at greater risk of getting breast cancer.
Taking into account the study carried out by ASCO, women who consume alcoholic beverages with lower levels than liquors, such as a beer or a glass of wine, are 5% more likely to develop breast cancer during the premenopausal period. This number increases to 9% when dealing with women who are already in the menopause period.
pharyngeal cancer
One of the most visible signs of cancer in this area is the unexpected appearance of blood.
It forms in the pharynx, the hollow tube that starts at the front of the nose to the top of the trachea and can be categorized into three types, according to the location of the tumor: at the top of the throat, behind the nose, the middle of the throat, behind the mouth and in the lower part of the throat, above the larynx.
laryngeal cancer
One of the seven cancers associated with alcohol consumption. In most cases, pharyngeal cancer can be easily observed from some changes in the voice and from the hoarseness that persists.
esophageal cancer
One of the most common symptoms of esophageal cancer is swallowing.
Alcohol is an agent that potentiates the carcinogenic effect of some agents. In other words, excessive alcohol consumption thus potentiates the effects of tobacco on the genesis of cancers of the oral cavity such as cancer of the pharynx, larynx and esophagus.
colon cancer
When colon cancer appears, one of the signs to watch out for is the onset of anemia which, in turn, causes some tiredness and weakness. Alcohol alters the way folate is absorbed in our bodies, a process that increases the risk of colon cancer.
colon-rectal cancer
It happens for the same reason as colon cancer: alcohol interferes with the absorption of folate in the body.
One of the most well-known symptoms caused by this type of cancer is blood loss in the stool.
As you can see, alcohol and cancer don’t mix. Alcohol is an agent that can cause several cancers, either alone or in association with other carcinogenic agents such as tobaccofor example.
It is important that each of us reflect on the lifestyle we lead and that we are aware that alcohol consumption, whether moderate or not, can be a very serious health problem. Therefore, whenever you choose to drink some type of alcoholic beverage, remember the consequences that this behavior can bring you if it unconsciously becomes a routine (daily or weekend).
