There are several factors that may contribute to an individual’s risk for cancer, such as how active you are, your family history, genetics, and your race or ethnicity. The correlation between alcohol consumption and certain types of cancer has been well-known for several decades, but in recent years, medical studies have been able to further deduce just how much of an effect drinking has on the development and treatment of cancer, as well as its effect on the symptoms of cancer itself.

1. Alcohol and Cancer Risk

Alcohol is associated more prominently with some types of cancers over others, but when looking at the total number of cancer cases worldwide in 2020, around 4% were linked to alcohol consumption^[1]. This may give you an idea of how closely alcohol and cancer are related, but exactly how much can you drink and not be susceptible to the risks? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two drinks a day is the maximum amount you should drink if you want to avoid a higher risk of developing cancer. In their research, they’ve found that drinking three or more drinks per day substantially increases the risk of several types of cancer, including mouth and throat cancer, larynx cancer, esophagus cancer, colon and rectum cancer, liver cancer, and breast cancer^[2]. While the CDC has determined that two drinks are the most you should drink to avoid cancer, they have also expressly stated that cutting out booze completely is the best way to avoid these risks altogether.

2. Alcohol and Breast Cancer

Unfortunately, the risk of breast cancer is substantially higher for those who drink, even among minimal drinkers. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the risk of breast cancer is approximately 50% higher for those consuming only one or two drinks per day^[3].

3. Alcohol and Pancreatic Cancer

The relationship between cigarette smoking and cancer is well documented, however, cigarette smokers who consume high amounts of alcohol have a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than cigarette smokers who don’t drink. In other words, if you smoke cigarettes, you have a 2% higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than a non-smoker, but if you smoke and drink more than three drinks a day, your risk doubles to over 4%^[4].

4. Alcohol and Colon Cancer

Individuals who consume more than one drink per day will need to consider the risks associated between alcohol and colon cancer. According to the Journal of Clinical Oncology, there is an increased risk of 1.5% of colon cancer if you are a moderate to heavy drinker^[5].

5. Hodgkin Lymphoma and Alcohol

There is little to no risk associated with developing Hodgkin lymphoma if you’re a drinker versus a non-drinker^[6] That being said, there are several serious considerations you’ll need to make if you already have Hodgkin lymphoma and consume alcohol. For one, your tolerance for alcohol will go down considerably if it hasn’t already—anywhere from 1.5 to 5% of Hodgkin patients noticed a significant drop in alcohol tolerance^[7]. This poses a unique danger when it comes to driving or other activities that become unsafe when alcohol is consumed.

Another consideration is added pain. There’s a level of pain associated with Hodgkin lymphoma, however, this pain becomes more common and more severe when alcohol is consumed^[8]. 

6. Alcohol and Obesity

Because of the caloric nature of alcohol, drinking often leads to obesity which comes with its own added risk of developing several types of cancer, most notably gallbladder cancer—a 60% higher risk than patients with a lower BMI. Obesity also increases the likelihood of esophageal adenocarcinoma (up to four times more likely), cancer of the upper stomach, liver, and kidney (two times more likely), pancreatic cancer (1.5 times more likely), colorectal cancer (up to 30% more likely^[18]), and endometrial cancer (7% more likely^[9]). Eating better and lowering or ceasing alcohol consumption can significantly lower your odds of developing cancer and contribute to overall well-being.

7. Immunotherapy and Alcohol

Apart from the risks of developing cancer, alcohol may also have an adverse effect on cancer recovery, especially if you’re receiving immunotherapy treatment. Because drinking lowers the immune system, the effectiveness of immunotherapy may be reduced if a patient consumes alcohol before or after treatment^[10]. 

8. Chemotherapy and Alcohol

If you’re on chemotherapy, it’s important to know that alcohol combined with chemo can result in added liver inflammation and mouth sores. Chemotherapy can cause nausea on its own, so avoiding alcohol will help subside the stomach sickness.

9. Cancer Recurrence and Alcohol

If your cancer treatment is successful, it’s important to remain sober while still in remission, because drinking increases the chances of the cancer returning^[11]. Alcohol is an immunosuppressant and if you’re in remission, your main goal should be to build your immune system, not challenge it.

10. Prostate Cancer and Alcohol

There is little to no connection between alcohol consumption and prostate cancer, though research is currently limited^[13]. However, for men looking to lower their risk for cancer, moderating their alcohol intake will lower their risk for many other types of cancer. In 2019, nearly 5% of all male cancer deaths could be linked to alcohol use^[12].

11. Liver Cancer and Alcohol

Alcohol affects the liver in many negative ways, most notably, cirrhosis and a risk of liver cancer. Out of all liver cancer cases worldwide, nearly half were a result of alcohol consumption^[16]. The World Journal of Gastroenterology has also noted that drinking has long-lasting effects on the body. When case participants ceased alcohol consumption, their risk of developing cancer dropped only about 6% per year over a 23-year period^[16].

12. Esophageal Cancer and Alcohol

Even just one drink per day increases the likelihood of developing esophageal cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute^[15]. Moreover, heavy drinkers who consume 20 or more drinks per week are five times more likely to develop esophageal cancer^[15].

13. Alcohol and Head and Neck Cancer

Both moderate and heavy drinkers are at a higher risk for head and neck cancers including pharynx, larynx, or mouth cancers. If you drink more than one drink per day, you are approximately twice as likely to develop head and neck cancers^[15]. If you drink and smoke, these risks become much higher. You are about 4% likely to develop head and neck cancers from alcohol alone, but when a cigarette smoker also drinks heavily, or even moderately, their risk increases by 35%^[17].

Alcohol and Multiple Myeloma

According to current research, there is no visible connection between alcohol use and multiple myeloma risk^[14].

Find Alcohol and Cancer-Related Resources in NYC

Fighting (and recovering from) cancer is an endless emotional and physical battle, but if you’re simultaneously struggling with a dependency on alcohol, the battle can often seem impossible to win. You’re not alone. An estimated 40% of people with cancer who consume alcohol engage in hazardous drinking^[11]. If you need help seeking treatment for alcohol dependence, we offer individual support through counseling and wellness programs and can help you locate treatment options that fit your needs whether it’s for alcohol dependence, finding effective and affordable cancer treatment, or simply navigating the complexities of the healthcare system^.. 

If you’d like to learn more, check out the SHAREing & CAREing website, or contact us directly through our online contact form. Our non-profit has been serving Queens and the greater New York City area for over 25 years.

Sources

1. “Report Details Global Cancer Burden”, National Cancer Institute, 2021
2. “Alcohol and Cancer”, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023
3. “Alcohol Intake and Breast Cancer Risk: Weighing the Overall Evidence”, National Institutes of Health, 2013
4. “Association between Alcohol Consumption and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study”, National Institutes of Health, 2015
5. “Alcohol and cancer: A statement of the American Society of Clinical Oncology”, Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2018
6. “Alcohol consumption and risk of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma: a multicentre case-control study”, Annals of Oncology, 2007
7. “Alcohol intolerance associated with Hodgkin lymphoma”, Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2013
8. “Hodgkin lymphoma presenting as alcohol-induced back pain”, British Medical Journal, 2019
9. “Obesity and Cancer”, National Cancer Institute, 2022
10. “Effects of Alcohol on Tumor Growth, Metastasis, Immune Response, and Host Survival”, Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 2015
11. “Drinking Alcohol, Often Heavily, Common among People with Cancer and Long-Term Survivors”, National Cancer Institute, 2023
12. “Association between Alcohol Intake and Prostate Cancer Mortality and Survival”, Nutrients, 2023
13. “Alcohol and Prostate Cancer: Time to Draw Conclusions”, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022
14. “Alcohol drinking and multiple myeloma risk–a systematic review and meta-analysis of the dose-risk relationship”, European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2014
15. “Alcohol consumption and site-specific cancer risk: A comprehensive dose-response meta-analysis”, British Journal of Cancer, 2015
16. “Alcohol and hepatocellular carcinoma: A review and a point of view”, World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2014
17. “Interaction between tobacco and alcohol use and the risk of head and neck cancer: pooled analysis in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium”, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & PreventionCancer Epidemiology, 2018
18. “Obesity and Cancer”, National Cancer Institute, 2022