Women Would Cut Drinking to Reduce Risk of Breast CancerOctober 29, 2004
Research Summary
A poll of British women conducted by Breakthrough Breast Cancer finds that most would curb their alcohol consumption if it meant reducing their risk of breast cancer, the BBC reported Oct. 26.While studies have shown that alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer, the poll found that only 7 percent of women were aware of the link.
"We don't yet know all the causes of breast cancer, but we do know that alcohol, HRT, the contraceptive pill, early periods, late menopause, and not having children can all increase risk," said Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. "Unfortunately, most of the established breast-cancer risk factors are things which are outside of our control. However, drinking less alcohol is one of the few things women can do to reduce their risk."
According to the survey, 12 percent of the women polled said they would stop drinking completely if they knew it would reduce their breast-cancer risk, while 27 percent would limit their drinking to one unit a day, and 14 percent would try to reduce their drinking.
"It's encouraging that so many women, especially young women, are willing to consider this change," said Morgan.
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