The holiday celebrations are right around the corner so here is something to think about as you pop that champagne. This question often comes up when I am hanging out with my breasties (the name I call my breast cancer survivor friends). I adore them so am always focused on how we can all keep ourselves healthy. I also want to make sure that our friends that aren’t in this “pink club” don’t get breast cancer.
Over 100 studies have been conducted to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk in women. All of them have consistently found an increased risk of breast cancer associated with drinking alcohol.
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), for women who have NOT had breast cancer, just one drink per day (or seven per week), raised the risk for premenopausal breast cancer by 5% and postmenopausal breast cancer by 9%. If a woman has a family history, these risk numbers could even be higher. According to breastcancer.org, these numbers are even higher.
“Compared to women who don't drink at all, women who have three alcoholic drinks per week have a 15% higher risk of breast cancer. Experts estimate that the risk of breast cancer goes up another 10% for each additional drink women regularly have each day.”
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A Life After Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) Study identified that for breast cancer survivors who were diagnosed after menopause, women who drank 4 or more alcoholic drinker per week had a 19% recurrence rate compared to non-drinkers. Among survivors who had estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers, those who drank 7 or more drinks a week had a 28% increased risk of late breast cancer recurrence (5 years or more after diagnosis).
According to research conducted by the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk (AMBER) Consortium, African-American women who drink seven or more alcoholic beverages per week have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Their risk increases to 33% if they drink 14 or more alcoholic beverages per week.
A study conducted by Fred Hutch epidemiologist Dr. Christopher Li did not find an association between moderate use of alcohol after a breast cancer diagnosis and death. However, he states, “One drink a day and your breast cancer risk goes up about 10 percent. Two drinks a day, it goes up 20 percent. Women who imbibe are particularly at risk for estrogen-receptor-positive, or ER+ breast cancer, since studies have shown that alcohol increases the level of estrogen in postmenopausal women.” Li said, “Moderation is very important, but our study supports previous studies in suggesting that the occasional glass of wine does not seem to impact a woman’s risk of dying of breast cancer.”
And for my Pink Sisters living with metastatic breast cancer, we could not find data to support a position specifically for these women. This is most likely because there are so many variables to consider.
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So why does alcohol have a negative effect? Here’s what we found:
- Alcohol can increase levels of estrogen and other hormones associated with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.
- Alcohol also may increase breast cancer risk by damaging DNA in cells.
- Alcohol users are more likely to have increased amounts of folic acid in their systems, which can lead to increased cancer risk.
- Alcohol is empty calories and can lead to unwanted weight gain. Excess fat can lead to increased cancer risk.
- Drinking alcohol may weaken the body’s ability to process and absorb important nutrients, including: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Folate and Carotenoids.
When I bring up this topic among friends, they always respond with, “Isn’t red wine good for you?” Well the data (per ASCO) says, “Do not make an exception for red wine. There is no clear evidence that drinking red wine helps to prevent cancer. Thus, the current recommended limits also apply to red wine.”
My trusted doc friend, Dr. Karen Godette, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology, Emory University Midtown Hospital, says, “The relationship between alcohol and breast cancer is not clearly understood and can be affected by many factors such as nutrition, menopausal status, hormone receptor status and the age that the patient starts drinking. The bottom line is that one drink per day is probably safe, but three drinks per week lowers breast cancer risk even more. No alcohol is best, but not absolutely necessary.”
So that’s the story. Just remember, the risks are real and breast cancer is no joke for African American women. We are dying at a 42% higher rate than white women. So for me, I will still be the one saying, “Don’t drink, I love you” to my Breasties. You only have one body to live in. Breast cancer should not be a death sentence. Early detection is our best protection.
And as always, check the breast that you love, I know you have a pair!
