There is a strong association between alcohol consumption and development of cancer. Data from 2009 suggested that alcohol consumption was responsible for approximately 3.5% of all cancer deaths in the US (Nelson et al., 2013). In addition, alcohol-associated cancers were responsible for 17.0 to 19.1 years of potential life lost for each death (Nelson et al., 2013). The chances of developing alcohol-related cancer are higher among persons with higher regular alcohol intake over time. Alcoholism might influence the development of cancer depending on the quantity of alcohol consumed and duration of that consumption.
The risk of developing alcohol-related cancer is elevated among people who have been regular drinkers for 20 or more years. Any amount of alcohol intake seems to be associated with risk for developing cancer. For instance, it has been showed that regular low regular alcohol intakes of 18g per day significantly increase the relative risk of developing cancer. Alcohol consumption has been linked to the development of five major types of cancers. These include head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. These are the major types of cancer that the 45-year old patient is prone to (McCance, 2014; Baan et al., 2007; Nelson et al. 2013).
Breast cancer has consistently been linked to increased consumption of alcohol. Hamajima and colleagues, in their metaanalysis of 53 epidemiologic studies making use of 58,000 women with breast cancer, found that women with alcohol intake of more than three drinks per day had 1.5 times the risk of developing breast cancer compared to nondrinkers (Hamajima et al., 2002). More recently, Nelson and colleagues found that most of the alcohol-attributable female cancer deaths (56% to 66%) were as a result of breast cancer.
Alcohol consumption is also associated with higher risk for developing esophageal cancer, particularly esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The likelihood of developing this type of cancer is increased among people that, due to genetic reasons, lack the enzyme that metabolizes alcohol. Nelson and colleagues found that upper airway and esophageal cancer were more common in men than in women, ranging from 53% to 71% (Nelson et al., 2013).
Head and neck cancer is associated with alcohol consumption. In particular, alcohol consumption has been linked to oral cavity (save for lips), pharynx/throat, and larynx (Baan et al., 2007). The risk of developing head and neck cancer among people who consume 50 or more grams of alcohol per day (about 3.5 drinks per day) is two to three times higher than those that do not drink. The risk of head and neck cancers is higher for individuals who also smoke, in addition to drinking (Baan et al., 2007). Therefore, with the patient in this scenario being both a smoker and an alcoholic, head and neck cancer might be highly likely.
The other kind of cancer that might result from alcohol consumption is colorectal cancer. These are cancer of the colon and rectum. Previous research suggests that people who take 50 or more grams of alcohol (about 3.5 drinks per day) might have 1.5 times higher chances of developing these cancers compared to non-drinkers and occasional drinkers (Baan et al., 2007).
There are several ways in which alcohol and smoking might elevate the risk for developing cancer. First, alcoholic drinks contain ethanol. The ethanol might be broken down into acetaldehyde, a toxic substance. This toxic chemical might damage both the human DNA and proteins. Second, alcohol consumption might result in the generation of oxygen species that, through oxidation, are capable of damaging DNA, proteins, and fats (McCance, 2014; National Cancer Institute, 2013).
Third, alcohol consumption might degrade the body’s capability metabolize and absorb various nutrients such as folate, which might increase the risk of developing cancer. Lastly, it is believed that alcohol might increase the levels of estrogen in the blood, which enhances the risk of developing breast cancer. People who use both tobacco and alcohol have higher chances of developing cancers than those take either tobacco or alcohol alone. In certain cases such as the cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx (throat), the risk is multiplicative, meaning that the risk is higher than the risk that would be associated with a simple addition of the individual risk of both alcohol and tobacco (McCance, 2014; National Cancer Institute, 2013).
In conclusion, alcohol is a major risk factor for the development of various types of cancers. This might result in high mortality rates and years of potential life lost. Therefore, a cancer prevention program might consider the reduction in alcohol consumption.
References
Baan, R., Straif, K., Grosse, Y., Secretan, B., El Ghissassi, F., Bouvard, V., & Cogliano, V. (2007). Carcinogenicity of alcoholic beverages. The Lancet Oncology, 8(4), 292-293.
Hamajima, N., Hirose, K., Tajima, K., Rohan, T., Calle, E. E., Heath Jr, C. W., & Koetsawang, S. (2002). Alcohol, tobacco and breast cancer--collaborative reanalysis of individual data from 53 epidemiological studies, including 58,515 women with breast cancer and 95,067 women without the disease. British journal of cancer, 87(11), 1234-1245.
McCance, K. L. (2014). Pathophysiology online for pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and Maryland Heights, MI: Mosby children. Inc.
Nelson, D. E., Jarman, D. W., Rehm, J., Greenfield, T. K., Rey, G., Kerr, W. C., & Naimi, T. S. (2013). Alcohol-attributable cancer deaths and years of potential life lost in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 103(4), 641-648.
