Alcohol Drinking Increases Breast Cancer Risk

Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol (more than one drink per day) for many years increases a woman's risk of breast cancer, according to results from several different research studies.

Drinking less alcohol is one of the few lifestyle changes a woman can make to decrease her chances of getting breast cancer. Researchers estimate that alcohol drinking causes about 17,000 new breast cancer cases each year.

It does not seem to matter what type of alcohol is consumed—wine, beer, and liquor all increased risk in research studies. Future studies may reveal differences; until then, it is wise to consider all alcohol a risk factor.

Postmenopausal women who are taking hormone replacement therapy should be especially careful about alcohol drinking, because the combination might raise breast cancer risk even higher. Also, experts suspect that there are genetic factors that make some women more vulnerable to the breast cancer-causing effects of alcohol than others. Researchers are just beginning to study these genetic factors.

Alcohol drinking decisions can be especially difficult for women to make because research has shown that small amounts might be beneficial for heart health. The balance between too much and too little is not yet well understood. Each woman should discuss alcohol drinking, considering her own risk factors and family history, with her doctor.

Today, many questions remain about alcohol drinking and breast cancer. Doctors at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center are leading a national team of researchers who are searching for answers to these questions. In the future, the results of this research should help women make more informed lifestyle choices and provide doctors with a better understanding of how breast cancer can start and ways to reduce risk.

For more information about lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your cancer risk, see the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention web page.

For more information about breast cancer and breast cancer risk factors, call the Lombardi CancerLine at (202) 444-4000.