October marks Breast Cancer Awareness month and Drinkaware, the national independent charity working to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse, is urging the public to be aware of the link between alcohol and breast cancer.
Throughout October Drinkaware has been highlighting the need for awareness and education of the HSE low-risk weekly guidelines and the dangers of binge drinking. In Ireland the greatest impact from alcohol for women is breast cancer. Alcohol is linked to 1 in 8 breast cancers in Ireland* and the Healthy Ireland Survey found that 73% of women are not aware that drinking more than the low-risk weekly alcohol guidelines can increase a person’s breast cancer risk**.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO ):
The risk of breast cancer increases with each standard drink of alcohol consumed per day.
Consuming three to six standard drinks per day increases breast cancer risk by 41%.
Drinking alcohol does not mean you will develop breast cancer – but it does mean the risk is higher. Everyone is different. And while there are many causes of breast cancer, lifestyle changes like cutting down or cutting out alcohol, is an action within our control to reduce the risk.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Drinkaware has three tips to support women to understand their drinking habits and make changes to protect their health and wellbeing:
Drink less alcohol: Limiting how much you drink is advised to reduce the risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer. If you drink alcohol, do not exceed the low-risk weekly alcohol guidelines. This is no more than 11 standard drinks for women in a week, the equivalent of approx. one bottle of wine and three longneck bottles of beer. Have at least two alcohol-free days in the week. Do not binge (6+ standard drinks in one sitting ) as the liver can only process one standard drink per hour.
Use a measure at home: Free pouring makes it almost impossible to know how much you are really drinking. Use a measure for spirits and wine. Order one for free at www.drinkaware.ie
Be sober curious: Stock up on alcohol-free alternatives. Cutting out alcohol entirely is one of 12 actions from the WHO European Code Against Cancer that we can take to be healthier and boost cancer prevention.
If you or someone you know is concerned about breast cancer, please see the Drinkaware site on breast cancer the HSE guidelines and the Marie Keating Foundation on prevention, risk factors, diagnosis and supports.
