Even small amounts of alcohol increase the risk of cancer

Many Swedes do not know that alcohol increases the risk of developing cancer. Above all, many people miss that even a low consumption increases the risk, according to a survey.

– The research is clear. There are no safe amounts of alcohol. Even a low consumption increases the risk of developing cancer, says Lena Sharp from the Regional Cancer Center in collaboration.

Together with the Cancer Foundation, the Medical Association and Systembolaget, among others, they have commissioned a survey among the public about the state of knowledge regarding alcohol and cancer in particular. Nine out of ten respond that they do not know that even small amounts of alcohol increase the risk of cancer.

Of the approximately 4,500 people from all over the country who were interviewed, one in five answered that they did not know that alcohol could increase the risk of cancer at all.

No exact limit

In the survey, carried out by Sifo, four out of ten state that they would drink less alcohol or abstain completely if they knew the risks.

– We don’t want to come up with pointers, but want people to have the right information about the risks so that they can make informed choices. Those partying know that smoking and the sun can lead to cancer, but there is less knowledge about the importance of alcohol.

Many would probably like to know exactly where the line is. But it is impossible to say and the increase in risk is also individual, says Lena Sharp.

– We know that more is worse than less, just as it is for smoking, she says.

think

Lena Sharp urges you to think about what occasions you drink alcohol. Every time counts and sometimes it may not feel particularly necessary to drink alcohol.

Above all, there are seven different cancers that are linked to drinking alcohol – breast cancer, cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, colon and rectum, and liver cancer. Already in 1998, alcohol was classified as one of the carcinogenic substances by the IARC, which is the WHO’s cancer research body.

But no matter how useful and healthy you live, it is not possible to completely avoid the risk of cancer.

– No, it cannot be bought free of. A great many cancer cases cannot be influenced. But by not smoking, eating well, engaging in physical activity and drinking less alcohol, the risk of being affected is reduced, says Lena Sharp.

Facts

About the survey

Read more