Cheers to Awareness: Understanding Alcohol's Role in Breast Cancer

One in every five deaths in the United States is due to cancer. Among women, cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death, trailing only heart disease. After some types of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among US women. There is reason for optimism, as there have been huge advances in treatment and improvements in breast cancer survival rates. However, breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death among Black and Hispanic women and is the second leading cause of cancer death among women overall, after lung cancer. In 2020, over 40,000 women died of breast cancer in the United States, 2,441 of them in New York State.

One in every five deaths in the United States is due to cancer. Among women, cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death, trailing only heart disease. After some types of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among US women. There is reason for optimism, as there have been huge advances in treatment and improvements in breast cancer survival rates. However, breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death among Black and Hispanic women and is the second leading cause of cancer death among women overall, after lung cancer. In 2020, over 40,000 women died of breast cancer in the United States, 2,441 of them in New York State.

While some risk factors for cancer, like age and family history, are beyond our control, a significant portion of breast cancer cases—about a third—are linked to modifiable factors. These include excess body weight, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption. One way women can take action to reduce their risk of breast cancer is to reduce how much they drink. 

What is the recommended safe alcohol limit to prevent cancer for women?

For the past forty years, the American Cancer Society has published safe alcohol limits in relation to cancer prevention. Prior to 2020, the recommendation was to limit drinking to no more than 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men. In 2020, this was updated to state that in relation to preventing cancer, "it is best not to drink alcohol."

How can women limit their risk of breast cancer in relation to alcohol?

• Understand that no form of alcohol is "safe" when it comes to cancer risk.
• Follow the American Cancer Society recommendation not to drink alcohol.
• If choosing to drink, limit intake to one drink per day.

• Avoid binge drinking; the one-drink limit applies daily, not averaged over several days.

Stopping or reducing drinking not only reduces the risk of cancer but also has a range of other benefits, such as reducing blood pressure, improving mental health, and promoting a better night's sleep.

Read some top tips on reducing the amount you drink in our blog "Practical Steps for Drinking Less Alcohol and Feeling Great," based on CDC guidance. [ADD LINK]

If you need support with reducing your drinking, you can contact the LEAF Council on Alcoholism and Addictions: leafinc.org, (607) 432-0090.

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "Cancer Statistics at a Glance." gis.cdc.gov/Cancer/USCS/#/AtAGlance/.  Siegel, R. L., Miller K. D., Jemal, A. (2018) "Cancer Statistics." doi.org/10.3322/caac.21442. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "Cancer Statistics at a Glance." gis.cdc.gov/Cancer/USCS/#/AtAGlance/. Giaquinto, A. N. et al. (2022) "Breast Cancer Statistics," CA: A Cancer Journal for Physicians, Journal of the American Cancer Society, doi.org/10.3322/caac.21754. Rock, C.L. et al. (2020) "American Cancer Society Guideline for Diet and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention," CA: A Cancer Journal for Physicians, Journal of the American Cancer Society, doi.org/10.3322/caac.21591.