A study published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) on Tuesday, July 13, reveals that one in 25 cancer is attributable to alcohol consumption among new cancer cases detected in 2020. Among them, cancer on seven is even attributed to a consumption ” mild to moderate “.
4.1% of cancer cases detected in 2020 linked to alcohol consumption
According to the latest estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 4.1% of all new cancer cases in 2020 were attributable to alcohol consumption. This represents, on a global scale, 741,300 individuals. Published this Tuesday, July 13 in the medical journal The Lancet Oncology, the study shows that 86% of these cancers attributable to alcohol are associated with consumption “ risky and excessive »(Ie more than two alcoholic drinks per day). In addition, the study reveals that a “light to moderate” consumption (ie up to two glasses of alcohol per day) still represents “ one in seven cases attributable to alcohol, i.e. more than 100,000 new cases of cancer worldwide In 2020 as indicated by the IARC in a press release.
Types of cancer that are at increased risk from alcohol consumption
Through the study, the researchers listed the types of cancer whose risk is increased by alcohol consumption. ” In 2020, the types of cancer with the highest number of new cases associated with alcohol consumption were cancer of the esophagus (190,000 cases), liver cancer (155,000 cases) and breast cancer in women (98,000 cases) Says the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In general, experts have listed seven types of cancer whose risk alcohol consumption increases: cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, colon-rectum, liver and cancer. breast in women.
Country and gender: who are most affected?
According to experts, men account for about three quarters of all cancer cases attributable to alcohol. The study thus reveals 567,000 cases of cancer attributable to alcohol in men against 172,600 in women. As for the countries most affected by the phenomenon, the study reveals that Mongolia is the country where the proportion of new cases of alcohol-related cancer is the highest (namely 10% of cases or 560 people affected) . A proportion estimated at 5% in France (20,000 cases), 4% in the United Kingdom (16,800), 3% in the United States (52,700) or even 4% in Germany (21,500).
