Whether heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer is a growing concern for researchers and one that affects around 10% to 20% of Americans. According to a new population-based researchers attributed over 700,000 new cases of cancer in 2020 to alcohol consumption. Researchers found that cancers of the esophagus, liver and breast contributed the most cases.

The results are of particular interest to MUSC Hollings Cancer Center researcher , who co-leads .

鈥淚 think this an example of the importance of research on modifiable lifestyle behaviors that have known association with various cancers,鈥� Carpenter said.听鈥淛ust as with smoking cessation, diet and physical exercise and limiting sun exposure, it鈥檚 important to remember the burden of excessive alcohol use on cancer risk.鈥�

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Hollings is committed to educating the public about behavioral choices that could have negative impacts as part of the mission to reduce the burden of cancer in South Carolina. , director of MUSC鈥檚 Tobacco Treatment Program, said the link between smoking and alcohol consumption can鈥檛 be ignored.

鈥淭here is a big focus on reducing tobacco use in South Carolina, but I think it is better to quit both smoking and heavy alcohol consumption because the behaviors are linked,鈥� Toll said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 common for someone with a drinking problem to also smoke.鈥�

Toll said there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to alcohol use and the impact it could have on health. For one, there is no worldwide consensus on measurement of a standard drink. According to a , some people measure a standard drink by how much they can fit in a single glass. However, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine and 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.

鈥淚 think people are confused because it is a common perception that if you don鈥檛 drink heavily, it isn鈥檛 risky, but if you do drink heavily, it is risky,鈥� Toll said. 鈥淭he line is blurred. There should be more awareness of the impacts alcohol can have on your health.鈥�

It鈥檚 a point that , the Thurmond Wellness Endowed Chair and professor in MUSC鈥檚 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, agrees with.

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鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing that smoking does that is good for somebody鈥檚 health,鈥� Anton said. 鈥淏ut with alcohol, there are social benefits, and studies that show that small amounts can have positive health effects.鈥�

Anton is particularly interested in the role that alcohol can play on epigenetics, which refers to changes in the genetic structure that is caused by interaction with the environment and a person鈥檚 behaviors. Unlike genetics inherited from parents, Anton said epigenetics can change over the course of one鈥檚 life.

鈥淚f someone drinks frequently enough, cells in the body don鈥檛 have enough time to recover and more permanent damage can occur,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t really is a combination of how much and how frequently you are drinking.鈥�

In a large South Korean population-based study, researchers found that the frequency at which one drinks, versus the amount of alcohol consumed during each occasion, can increase the risk of a person developing gastrointestinal cancers, including esophageal, stomach, colorectal, liver, biliary and pancreatic.

Anton estimates that among the 90% of Americans old enough to drink alcohol, 10% to 20% are categorized as heavy drinkers. He said when alcohol enters the body, it is absorbed into the outer membranes of cells and affects how they function and communicate with one another.

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鈥淕enes in cells can turn on and off like a light switch. When the chemical is on, it is working. When the chemical is off, it鈥檚 not working and vice versa,鈥� he said. 鈥淎lcohol messes up that light switch-type of mechanism, so the genes start becoming dysfunctional. They may cause cells to divide inappropriately, or they may not allow the cell to turn off its activity level. All of this can cause cells to behave in unhealthy ways and lead to things like high blood pressure and cancer.鈥�

Anton said that while the body is resilient, too much damage from heavy alcohol consumption can limit cells鈥� ability to repair themselves and hinder the immune system from recognizing cells that are behaving abnormally. He said raising awareness about the dangers of alcohol consumption is critical.

鈥淎lcohol doesn鈥檛 cause cancer in everybody. The question is who is most vulnerable? If you have an increased risk of cancer, whether hereditary or an early diagnosis yourself, you should probably reconsider how much you鈥檙e drinking because it鈥檚 not going to be helpful.鈥�

Need help with an alcohol addiction?

MUSC offers several resources for patients looking to get help with a drinking problem, including the . Patients can access services without an appointment by calling 843-792-5200.

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