The World Health Organization (WHO) is warning about the little-known risk of developing breast cancer linked to alcohol consumption, even if it is low.
- 21% of women in 14 European countries are aware of the link between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing breast cancer, according to the WHO.
- More than half of alcohol-attributable breast cancer cases in Europe are not caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
- About a third of new annual cases are due to consumption equivalent to two glasses of wine per day.
“21% of women [soit une femme sur cinq] of 14 European countries are aware of the link between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing breast cancer, alerts the World Health Organization (WHO) in a note. Awareness is even lower among men: only 10% know of this link.”
Low alcohol consumption increases breast cancer risk
In France, there were 61,214 new cases of breast cancer in 2023, an increase of 0.3% since 2010, according to the Panorama of cancers in France – 2023 edition. On a European scale, in 2022, this number was 600,000. A public health issue, one of the main risk factors of which, alcohol, deserves to be better documented according to the WHO
“For women in Europe, breast cancer is the leading cancer caused by alcohol, accounting for 66% of all alcohol-attributable cancer cases.”, explains the WHO. Two main reasons explain this phenomenon. On the one hand, DNA damage and potentially cancerous mutations caused by alcohol consumption. But also, and especially for women, the fact that this drink affects estrogen levels which “play an important role in the development and progression of many breast cancers”.
Another lesson: the link between alcohol and breast cancer exists even if alcohol consumption is low. “More than half of alcohol-attributable breast cancer cases in Europe are not due to excessive alcohol consumption, and around a third of new annual cases are due to consumption equivalent to two small glasses of wine per day. day”, notes the health authority, which calls for a change in more preventive public policies.
WHO calls for limits on alcohol consumption
Europe “has the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the world, with one in ten deaths linked to alcohol, said Hans Klugeregional director of the organization, at Agence France Presse (AFP). Reducing or limiting our alcohol consumption is a great place to start to reduce harmful effects and prioritize health.”
In France, breast cancer represents 33% of female cancers, making it the most common. To reduce the risks, it is advisable to limit your alcohol consumption, stop smoking, engage in regular physical activity, and monitor your weight and diet. According to the Panorama of cancers in France, nearly 20,000 breast cancers could thus be avoided each year.
To be in good health, Public Health France recommends drinking no more than two glasses per day and not every day. Indeed, according to the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), alcohol consumption is responsible for more than 200 illnesses and various disorders.