Alcohol ups breast cancer recurrence risk

[The Straight Story]

Alcohol ups breast cancer recurrence risk

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Women who have at least three to four alcoholic drinks per week have a 1.3-fold greater chance of breast cancer recurrence, U.S. researchers found.

Marilyn L. Kwan of Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif., said women who are post-menopausal or overweight may be most susceptible to the effects of alcohol on recurrence. Drinking fewer than three drinks per week was not associated with an increased risk, Kwan said.

Kwan and colleagues examined the effects of alcohol on cancer recurrence and mortality in the Life After Cancer Epidemiology Study -- 1,897 early-stage breast cancer survivors diagnosed with early-stage invasive breast cancer from 1997-2000.

After eight years of follow-up, Kwan and colleagues found 349 breast cancer recurrences and 332 deaths. Increased risk of the cancer coming back was most predominant among those who consumed two or more glasses of wine per day.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/12/11/Alcohol-ups-breast-cancer-recurrence-risk/UPI-22971260558588/

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Dang. Drink wine for good cardiovascular health. No wait, forget it, it increases cancer risk.

I wonder how many of those women did drink on account of hearing it might be good for them?

[The Straight Story]

2. I gave up trusting science studies after mylar :) Eat, drink, be merry, gonna die anyway

Might as well enjoy it while you are alive.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Yeah, pretty much. :^)

[Contrary1]

4. I found this out 12 years ago while researching due to my own diagnosis...

It amazes me that info like this is reported as something new.