Binge drinking causes cancer

The problem with the alcohol culture in New Zealand is a combination of its historical factor and a lack of maturityThe consumption of alcohol is a globally accepted social convention. For centuries people have been consuming alcohol as a way to unwind, celebrate or bury emotions.

For most people, this means they have been exposed to alcohol consumption for their entire lives, with wines being served at family dinners and sharing a first beer with a father. This tradition goes back countless generations. More funding and time should be given to education on real world issues like alcohol abuse. There should also be an increase of support to families affected by alcohol addiction.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/changing-the-kiwi-booze-culture/9592773/Binge-drinking-shows-immaturity

To look at it statistically, the New Zealand Drug Foundation says alcohol causes more harm in this country than illegal drugs methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, acid and heroin combined.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/03/has-alcoholism-become-new-zealand-s-accepted-addiction.html

lifetime Alcohol intake, Binge drinking behaviour and breast cancer risk study: https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/186/5/541/3806860

in general, higher levels of alcohol intake have been associated with a number of adverse health outcomes (3), including breast cancer (4). Alcohol has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (5, 6). However, less well understood is the impact of heavy episodic drinking, or binge drinking, on breast carcinogenesis. In this study, we aimed to estimate the association between lifetime alcohol intake and binge drinking behaviors and breast cancer risk and to evaluate potential effect-measure modification of the relationship between lifetime alcohol intake and breast cancer risk by binge drinking.

Drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing these types of cancer:

• Head and neck cancers, particularly cancers of the oral cavity (mouth), pharynx (throat), and larynx (voice box)
• Liver cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Breast cancer
• Colorectal cancer

Researchers are still trying to discover why alcohol increases cancer risk. Here are some possibilities:

• The increased risk may be related to 2 chemicals that can damage the DNA of healthy cells:
  • Ethanol, which is the primary part of alcoholic beverages
  • Acetaldehyde, which is made when alcohol is digested by the body
  • Alcohol may affect the breakdown of the hormone estrogen, which increases the amount of estrogen in the blood. Having more estrogen in the body than usual is a risk factor for breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers. This is a particular concern for women before menopause and women taking menopausal hormone therapy.

-Alcohol can act as an irritant, especially in the mouth and throat. Cells that are damaged by the alcohol may try to repair themselves, which could lead to DNA changes that can be a step toward cancer.

-Alcohol and its byproducts can also damage the liver, leading to inflammation and scarring. As liver cells try to repair the damage, they can end up with mistakes in their DNA, which could lead to cancer.