Breast Cancer Risk and Alcohol

Breast Cancer and alcohol what are the risk? Researchers have long studied the effects of alcohol and breast cancer risk. A recent industry article looked at the results of one study combined with the results of over 100 other studies. According to the article as few as one alcoholic drink per day can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer by almost 5 percent, according to a new analysis of existing research. Substantial drinking — three or more drinks a day — can boost risk up to 50 percent, according to researchers from Germany, France and Italy

Breast Cancer and Alcohol are Linked

Breast cancer and alcohol risk are associated according to researchers.  “Alcohol consumption is causally related with breast cancer,” the study authors concluded after reviewing 113 prior studies. They linked 2 percent of breast cancer cases in Europe and North America to less than moderate drinking alone, and about 50,000 cases worldwide to substantial drinking. The link between alcohol and breast cancer was first theorized in the early 1980s, the authors said. To modernize the research, they looked for studies published before November 2011. They found more than 3,400 studies in all and drill down their focus to 113 that specifically targeted the effects of light drinking on breast cancer risk. The review will be published March 29 in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism. This type of information is helpful for women to know. It is not meant to incite fear or guilt. Knowledge is power, and the more we know about breast cancer and the risk the more likely we are to find a cure.

Breast Cancer Risk Should Be Discussed With Your Doctor

Breast cancer risk can be further explained by your doctor. When patients are considering their individual risk factors for breast cancer they should have a conversation with their primary care physician addressing their concerns. Dr. Siefy regularly performs breast reconstruction surgery for patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. There are exciting innovations in breast reconstruction techniques which include fat grafting using stem cell, different shapes and sizes of breast implants, and many more options. Patients who have had previous breast surgery including breast augmentation with breast implants, breast reduction, and breast lift are encouraged to continue monthly breast self-exams after healing from surgery. If patients are unsure about how to perform the breast self-exam with implants or following breast surgery, they are encouraged to let Dr. Seify or his staff show them how. Dr. Seify and his knowledgeable staff are happy to help patients understand the correct way to perform breast self-exam in the most effective manner possible.