Don't Be Confused: Alcohol Causes Cancer

I was reading Medscape today and came across a headline that caught my eye.  A few days ago I read a newspaper article with a similar headline.  Upon reading the comments I realized how ignorant people are -- especially when it's something they don't want to hear or don't agree with.

The articles of which I speak cite scientific evidence and research that alcohol causes cancer.  This is something that has been well known for years. Of course the alcohol industry doesn't want this information to be public knowledge.  So they hire their own scientists to cover up the truth.

Heaven forbid people's health comes before padding your pocketbook. 

I know I have done blog posts on this topic before but after reading people's ludicrous comments and then seeing this article in Medscape -- it pushed me o'er the brink to do another blog post. As you know, I'm a big fan of truth.  People can disagree all they want but the truth is that alcohol in any amount causes cancer.

Here are some excerpts from the article:  

From www.medscape.com, Don't Be Confused: Alcohol Causes Seven Cancers, Nick Mulcahy, July 27, 2016

"There is "strong evidence" that alcohol causes seven cancers, and other evidence indicates that it "probably" causes more, according to a new literature review published online July 21 in Addiction."

"Epidemiologic evidence supports a causal association of alcohol consumption and cancers of the oropharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, and female breast, says Jennie Connor, MB, ChB, MPH, from the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, in Dunegin, New Zealand."

"In short, alcohol causes cancer." 

"This is not news, says Dr Connor. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and other agencies have long identified alcohol consumption as being causally associated with these seven cancers." 

"So why did Dr Connor, who is an epidemiologist and physician, write a new review? Because she wants to "clarify the strength of the evidence" in an "accessible way."" 

"There is "confusion" about the statement, "Alcohol causes cancer," explains Dr Connor.
Public and scientific discussion about alcohol and cancer has muted the truth about causality, she suggests." 

"In the public and the media, statements made by the world's experts are often given the same weight as messages from alcohol companies and their scientists. Overall messages become unclear."

"Currently, alcohol's causal role is perceived to be more complex than tobacco's, and the solution suggested by the smoking analogy — that we should all reduce and eventually give up drinking alcohol — is widely unacceptable," writes Dr Connor." 

"The newly published review "reinforces the need for the public to be made aware of the causal link between alcohol and cancer," said Colin Shevills, from the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, in a press statement."

"In a statement about the new review, Prof Dorothy Bennett, director of the Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute at St. George's, University of London, said: "Alcohol enters cells very easily, and is then converted into acetaldehyde, which can damage DNA and is a known carcinogen."" 

"Current estimates suggest that alcohol-attributable cancers at the seven cancer sites make up 5.8% of all cancer deaths worldwide, she states." 

"The alcohol industry has a lot at stake, she says, which in turn leads to "misinformation" that "undermines research findings and contradicts evidence-based public health messages."" 

"There is no safe level of drinking with respect to cancer, says Dr Connor, citing research about low to moderate levels of alcohol, which has been covered by Medscape Medical News." 

"This was also the conclusion of the 2014 World Cancer Report, issued by the World Health Organization's IARC." 

"The promotion of health benefits from drinking at moderate levels is "seen increasingly as disingenuous or irrelevant in comparison to the increase in risk of a range of cancers," writes Dr Connor." 

"Public health campaigns "with clear messages" are needed to spread the word about alcohol's carcinogenicity, she told Medscape Medical News." 

"The New Zealand Medical Association, the Cancer Society of New Zealand, and the National Heart Foundation have all adopted evidence-based position statements that "debunk" cardiovascular benefits as a motivation to drink and that highlight cancer risks, Dr Connor said."-- Medscape.com, July 27, 2016

As the article states, people don't want to hear that alcohol causes cancer because they don't want to stop drinking.  It's like the ostrich putting his head in the sand.  It doesn't change the fact that the ostrich is still there and visible.

And of course the alcohol industry wants to help people put their heads in the sand because they don't want their cash flow to slow down. They make a lot of money off of people's bad choices.  And they're more than willing to help people continue to make bad choices.

So, you can be an ignorant ostrich with your head in the sand but the fact remains that alcohol consumption causes cancer.

That's my two cents.