Alcohol directly linked to cancer

(By Dr. Joseph D. Lim and Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI)

CANCER of the oral cavity is among six types of cancer directly linked to the consumption of alcoholic drinks.

According to a new study, cancer of the oral cavity, breast, pharyngeal, laryngeal, esophageal, colorectal, and liver cancer can be attributed to alcohol consumption.

Emerging evidence suggests stomach and pancreatic cancer may be linked to alcoholic drinks as well, according to a study originally published in The Lancet Oncology journal in August 2021.

The study was recently cited by Isabelle Soerjomataram, PhD, of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, during the annual meeting of the European Society for Medical Oncology.

There is an urgent need to raise global awareness about the direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk, said Dr. Soerjomataram who highlighted IARC data at a session devoted to alcohol and cancer.

The data show that nearly half (46 percent) of the world’s population consumes alcohol. Worldwide, the amount comes to about six liters of pure ethanol per year per drinker, or about one wine bottle per week.

According to IARC data, heavy drinking – defined as more than 60 grams a day or about six daily drinks – accounts for 47 percent of the alcohol-attributable cancers.

Risky drinking – between 20 and 60 g/day – accounts for 29 percent. Moderate drinking – less than 20 g/day or about two daily drinks – accounts for roughly 14 percent of cases of cancers linked to alcohol.

Globally, alcohol intake accounted for 4 percent of all cancers diagnosed in 2020, according to a 2021 analysis by IARC, Dr. Soerjomataram said.

She cited the 2021 population-based study conducted by Harriet Rumgay.

To estimate the burden of cancer linked to alcohol, Dr. Rumgay and colleagues at IARC gathered data for a range of cancers from the GLOBOCAN 2020, the cancer dataset collected by the IARC.

Assuming a 10-year latency period between alcohol consumption and cancer diagnosis, the study also examined per capita alcohol consumption estimates for 2010 from the Global Information System on Alcohol and Health.

Analysis of the data showed that 741,300 (4.1 percent) of all cancer cases in 2020 were attributable to alcohol consumption, with 568,700 (76.7 percent) of those cases occurring in men.

“Our findings highlight the need for effective policy and interventions to increase awareness of cancer risks associated with alcohol use and decrease overall alcohol consumption to prevent the burden of alcohol-attributable cancers,” says Dr. Rumgay who led the IARC study.

“Alcohol use is causally linked to multiple cancers,” she says. “We present alcohol-attributable cancer burden in 2020 to inform alcohol policy and cancer control.”

As a part of oral health care, dentists should also be aware of these findings and inform their patients accordingly.

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Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.

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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; Member, American Academy of Implant Dentistry and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com./PN