Drinking alcohol is linked to higher chances of colorectal cancer − but just how many drinks increase your risk?
New research, published Jan. 26 in the American Cancer Society's peer-reviewed journal Cancer, found drinkers with an average lifetime alcohol intake of 14 or more drinks per week had a 25% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer and a 95% higher risk of developing rectal cancer compared to those with an average of less than one drink per week.
Moderate alcohol intake, which was measured as seven to less than 14 drinks per week, was associated with a lower risk compared to heavy drinkers.
Though higher lifetime consumption is associated with higher risk, especially for rectal cancer, the study also revealed some good news: Quitting drinking can lower a person’s risk.
"While the data on former drinkers were sparse, we were encouraged to see that their risk may return to that of the light drinkers,” co–senior author Erikka Loftfield of the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute said in a news release.
