The Sobering Facts About Alcohol and Cancer

At the ESMO Annual Meeting 2023, Isabelle Soerjomataram emphasized the urgent need to highlight the link between alcohol and cancer, urging healthcare professionals to increase awareness.

IARC data shows nearly half the world consumes alcohol, with heavy drinking causing 47% of alcohol-related cancers. In 2020, 4% of global cancer cases were alcohol-induced, with the UK having 17,000 such cases.

Apart from breast cancer, alcohol is linked to six other cancer types, with potential ties to stomach and pancreatic cancer. Notably, alcohol consumption is declining in countries like France and Italy.