Widespread habit may raise colorectal cancer risk more than you think

“The negative impact of spirits (hard liquor) is greater than beer, which is more than wine,� (iStock)

Research shows that for those who drink at least two drinks per day — which is considered “moderate consumption,” the doctor said — the lifetime risk of colorectal cancer will increase by at least 25%.

A heavier drinker, consumingmore than two drinksa day, will have an exponentially greater risk. 

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“What really makes the difference is not only the volume, but the frequency,” Sardinha said.“I just saw one of my patients who I operated on last week and she drinks six beers a day, and she developed colon cancer.She’s notmorbidly obese, she’s not a smoker.The only risk factor she has is alcohol.”

The doctor advises her patients to avoid alcohol, “or at least minimize intake.”

“What really makes the difference is not only the volume, but the frequency.”

If someone stops drinking, the risk won’t disappear immediately, the doctor noted.

“It takes about an average of 10 years to know if cancer risk decreased or not,” she said.“But we do know that if you continue drinking, your risk will definitely increase.”

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“That’s why we recommend that patients stop drinking or exponentially decrease their intake, in the same way we tell them to exercise and increasefruits and vegetablesin their diet.”

Sardinha pointed out that alcohol isn’t the only culprit. 

“Not all heavy drinkers develop cancer, so there has to be some other mechanism that plays a role,” she said.

And not all types of alcohol are equal in terms of colorectal cancer risk, according to Dr.Nathan Goodyear,integrative medicine physicianat Williams Cancer Institute in California.

spirits (hard liquor)is greater than beer, which is more than wine,� 

A Danish study also found that wine consumption was associated with a lower risk of death, while beer and spirits were not, Goodyear pointed out.Spirits had the highest risk, especially at three to five drinks per day. 

In addition to stopping or limiting alcohol intake, doctors say other healthy lifestyle behaviors, like exercise, have been shown to decrease the chances of colorectal cancer.(iStock)

“In the U.S., alcohol is often used in thecontext of addiction— another hit to keep the high,” Goodyear said.“But in some communities, such as Sardina, Italy, and Ikaria, Greece, wine is part of the culture, social connections and community.”

“Wine is taken outside the context of addiction, and taken within the context of a plant-based diet, social settings, daily movement, faith, community and life.”

Other ways to minimize risk

In addition to stopping or limiting alcohol intake, Sardinha shared other healthy lifestyle behaviors that have been shown to decrease the chances of colorectal cancer.

One “huge and well-established” factor isregular exercise, she said.

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“If you don’t exercise, if you don’t move, you definitely increase your risk of colorectal cancer,�“Even for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer, once they have surgery and are able to exercise, that will improve theirlong-term prognosis.”

Smoking is another highly carcinogenic habit — and it’s a common myth that it’s only associated with lung cancer.

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“We do know that if you continue drinking, your risk will definitely increase.”

“Smoking is a risk factor for most cancers, and colorectal cancer is one of them,” Sardinha said.  

Taking steps to address and prevent obesity is also a well-established way to minimize risk, as is adopting ahealthy, high-fiber dietto promote proper bowel function, according to the doctor.

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“Diets that are lower in fiber are often more constipating — and therefore, if there’s anything in the food that is carcinogenic, that is going to have more direct, prolonged contact with the bowel wall, with the cells, and increases the chances of DNA damage,” she said.

“Obviously, we cannot change our family history — but thosegood lifestyle habitswill make a difference in the risk of colorectal cancer.”

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