Alcohol and Breast Cancer - Long Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse

A new study on Alcohol and Breast Cancer discovered that alcohol consumption early in a woman’s life could put her at a higher risk of developing breast disease, which could lead to cancer. This is the result of long term effects of alcohol abuse consumption.

A research based on a group of approximately 6,900 women, aged between 16 to 23 years old was conducted and researchers discovered that those who drank six or seven days per week had five times more than the odds of developing the so-called benign breast disease years later.

Women with benign breast disease will have hard lumps in their breasts, which may turn cancer in some instances. According to the National Cancer Institute, the general broad group of conditions includes irregular cysts, breast discomfort, sensitive nipples and itching.

These new study is the first to look into alcohol consumption directly during adolescence and continued following the girls into adulthood. About one (1) per cent or 67 of them said they had been diagnosed with benign breast disease when they were interviewed later at age 18 to 27 years old. Those who drank more were more likely to suffer from the condition, with each average drinking increasing to the risk of getting the breast disease.

It is unclear why alcohol would have an effect on the breast disease or cancer, but researchers assume that alcohol effect on oestrogen that could promote breast tissue growth. This study results give older girls and adolescents another reason to avoid alcohol consumption.