It is 'too soon to make alcohol and breast cancer link'

Recent studies have highlighted the risk which excessive alcohol consumption can pose to people's health, but one expert has now claimed that it is "too soon" to make a direct connection between drinking and breast cancer.

Anthony Leathem, spokesperson for Against Breast Cancer and honorary senior lecturer in surgery at University College London (UCL), pointed to one particular study conducted by American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).

It suggested that women who consume more than two glasses of wine a day have an increased likelihood of developing breast cancer, but Mr Leathem said that making links between diet, alcohol and the development of cancer is too tenuous at the moment.

He told cancer cover holders: "High intake of alcohol is linked to [an] increased risk of having breast cancer, but no-one yet knows how this influences recurrence or how it influences concurrent conditions such as high blood-pressure."

The expert added that the UCL's own research, the UK prospective DietCompLyf study, focuses on factors that influence the chances of breast cancer recurring.

Each year over one million people are diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide, with the AACR study suggesting that overweight women who drink are even more at risk than others, but Mr Leathem said the most recent UCL study did not make as explicit a connection.

He told cancer insurance customers: "Before women [are] given advice, we really should [wait for the] results from several large studies. Like the American LACE study of 1,897 women, we need longer follow-up of patients and it is too soon to make scientifically valid conclusions or give patients helpful advice."

Until then, the healthcare specialist said the "jury is still out" on the effects which drinking and diet can have on breast cancer development, and simply advised women to follow a healthy lifestyle and consume alcohol in moderation.

Posted by James McCann

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