Cancer mortality has sharply increased due to an unexpected factor

Over the past three decades, the number of deaths from cancer related to alcohol consumption has significantly increased. This conclusion was reached by scientists from the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami. Their research, the first of its kind at the national level, was published in the journal Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Analyzing data from the global disease database, specialists focused on types of cancer directly linked to alcohol: breast, liver, colon, throat, mouth, esophagus, and vocal cords. From 1990 to 2021, mortality from these forms of cancer in the USA increased from 12,000 to 23,000 cases per year. The increase is especially noticeable among men over 55 years old - more than 1% annually.

Despite established scientific data, awareness among the population remains low. According to a 2019 survey, only 45% of Americans know about the connection between alcohol and cancer. At the same time, 89% of respondents acknowledge the harm of smoking. Meanwhile, alcohol annually leads to approximately 100,000 new cancer cases and about 20,000 deaths - more than die in accidents involving drunk drivers.

The authors of the study emphasize the importance of understanding the biological mechanisms of alcohol's impact - such as DNA damage and hormonal changes. This could become the basis for personalized prevention, where people with high risk would be recommended to limit or completely abstain from alcohol.