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A scientist has revealed the shocking way alcohol can increase the risk of deadly cancer.
A glass of wine a day doesn't keep the doctor away, according to science. Yep, someone has debunked the theory that the occasional alcoholic beverage is good for us.
In actuality, just one cocktail, beer. or glass of wine can be harmful to our health and even raise the risk of multiple diseases, including cancer.
A report from the US Surgeon General estimates booze is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the states, and is responsible for 20,000 deaths every year.
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To compare, alcohol-related car crashes cause around 13,500 deaths each year in the US, so it's fair to say it's boomed into a bigger problem than we thought.
Now, a doctor and cancer biologist has lifted the lid on how alcohol can cause the deadly disease.
Writing in The Conversation, Pranoti Mandrekar, a Professor of Medicine at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, said her team found: "Cancer occurs when cells grow uncontrollably in the body. Alcohol may lead to tumor formation by damaging DNA, causing mutations that disrupt normal cell division and growth."
The professor said researchers and leading bodies, like the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Health, have long linked alcohol with cancer with 'conclusive evidence'.
She highlighted four ways it can cause the deadly disease: alcohol metabolism, oxidative stress and inflammation, alterations in hormone levels, and interactions with other carcinogens such as tobacco smoke.
"Alcohol metabolism is the process by which the body breaks down and eliminates alcohol," the doc continued. "When alcohol breaks down, its first byproduct is acetaldehyde, a chemical that is itself classified as a carcinogen."
Alcohol can also trigger other harmful molecules that researchers have called 'free radicals'.
"These molecules can damage DNA, proteins and lipids in cells in a process called oxidative stress.
"My lab has found that free radicals formed from alcohol consumption can directly affect how well cells make and break down proteins, resulting in abnormal proteins that promote inflammation that favors tumor formation."
As for hormones, she said alcohol can 'directly' affect levels that increase cancer risk, for example, even moderate drinking can elevate estrogen levels which, in turn, increase the risk of breast cancer.
"Alcohol also amplifies breast cancer risk by reducing levels of vitamin A, a compound that regulates estrogen," she added.
We all know smoking tobacco is linked with cancer, but the doctor says people who smoke have an increased risk of developing cancer in the mouth, pharynx and larynx.
This is because alcohol 'makes it easier for the body to absorb the carcinogens in cigarettes and e-vapes'.
So, how much is safe to drink?
Well, you might not like the answer, because it's 'none'.
"Alcohol consumption is a highly preventable cause of cancer," she concluded. "However, there isn’t currently a way to determine someone’s personal cancer risk from alcohol. Each person’s individual genetic background, lifestyle, diet and other health factors can all influence the effects of alcohol on tumor formation.
"Nevertheless, rethinking your alcohol drinking habits can help protect your health and reduce your cancer risk."