The end-of-year holiday season has arrived and, like every year, several news alert us to the dangers of excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages during gatherings and events common during this period. However, a specific warning has emerged among experts and health institutions: the relationship between alcohol consumption and the development of various types of cancer.
In addition to being associated with liver disease, alcohol is directly linked to the development of various types of tumors. Among the most common are cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, breast and intestine. In head and neck tumors, this relationship is even more dangerous: when alcohol and tobacco are combined, the carcinogenic effects multiply. Studies show that people who smoke and drink regularly may be up to 30% more likely to develop cancer in these areas.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, a category that includes substances proven to cause cancer in humans. This means that ethanol, present in any alcoholic beverage, acts, among other things, directly in the formation of toxic compounds, such as acetaldehyde, which damage DNA and compromise cellular repair mechanisms.
The question in this debate is whether there is a safe level of consumption, and the answer, according to the most recent scientific evidence, is a bit complex. Statistically, there is no safe dose, and even small amounts can trigger cellular changes capable of promoting the emergence of tumors over time, but the risk increases the larger and more consistent the consumption.
In the liver, excessive consumption is associated with cirrhosis, a serious disease that significantly increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of primary cancer of the organ. The combination of chronic inflammation, cell death and continued regeneration forms a favorable environment for tumor emergence.
Another tumor strongly associated with alcohol is breast cancer, the most common cancer among women in Brazil. This link occurs primarily due to alcohol’s interference with hormonal regulation. Frequent consumption increases the levels of estrogen, a hormone linked to cell proliferation in breast tissues, which increases the risk of malignant changes.
The popularization of alcoholic beverages among adolescents and young adults also worries experts. Research shows that the earlier drinking begins, the higher the risk of addiction in adulthood and the longer the exposure to the carcinogenic effects of alcohol.
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 700,000 cases of cancer per year worldwide are linked to alcohol consumption. Despite these alarming figures, there is one positive point: reducing or eliminating intake brings immediate and long-term benefits. Just as there is a cumulative risk, there is also a gradual reduction of toxic compounds in the body when a person reduces or stops consumption, thereby improving inflammatory, metabolic and immunological markers.
In Brazil we have a culturally permissive relationship with alcohol, but understanding the relationship between its consumption and cancer is an essential step for each person to make more conscious choices. For those who choose to continue consuming alcoholic beverages, some risk reduction strategies include avoiding daily consumption, eating a healthy diet including fruits and vegetables, and engaging in regular physical activity, including aerobic exercise, such as walking. Having quality information saves lives and your body will thank you!
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