Women in dark over cancer risk
Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date published: 17 October 2008
WARNING ON ALCOHOL LINK TO DISEASE
WOMEN in Oldham are being urged to limit their drinking after it emerged that the majority are unaware of the link between alcohol and breast cancer.
According to the General Household Survey, about four million women across the UK drink more than the NHS recommended daily limit of two to three units of alcohol (one large glass of wine.)
Regularly drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer — and the risk increases the more you drink — but 85 per cent of women in the North-West don’t realise the danger.
The research was conducted by the Government’s Know Your Limits campaign, which encourages people to drink responsibly, and charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
When compared with women who don’t drink alcohol, it is estimated that one large glass of wine a day increases the risk by a fifth, two glasses by a third and three glasses by more than 50 per cent.
Breakthrough Breast Cancer policy manager, Dr Sarah Cant, said: “Although many factors might affect our risk of getting breast cancer, limiting how much we drink is one thing we can do to try to reduce that risk. It is never too late to change your drinking habits.”
Not all causes of the disease are known but drinking alcohol is one of the few identified risk factors, the biggest being increasing age. Other causes are thought to be a combination of hormonal, genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors.
Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said: “It is shocking to see the potential risks of drinking above recommended guidelines in black and white.
“Knowing the potential health consequences enables women to make choices that can reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.”
The research shows that 66 per cent of women aged over 50 falsely believe most women who develop breast cancer do so because it runs in their family — but only 5 per cent of all breast cancers are due to a strong family history of the disease.
For more information about alcohol and health visit www.nhs.uk/units
