Women should avoid alcohol altogether to reduce their risk of breast cancer, a charity has warned.
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has published a review of evidence on how diet and lifestyle factors can play a role in the development of the disease.
Globally, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 670, 000 deaths caused by the disease in 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Research teams from Harvard University and the Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands conducted a large review for the WCRF of research on breast cancer incidence and mortality.
The review recommended four measures. They are: maintaining a healthy weight and regularly taking part in physical activity; prioritising fruit, vegetables and foods containing fibre; lowering consumption of red and processed meat and sugar-sweetened beverages; and avoiding alcohol and smoking.
Dr Dora Romaguera of the Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands, said: “Globally, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. This report provides clear evidence that by looking at our whole diet and the way we live, there are clear steps to recommend to women to lower their breast cancer risk.
“Importantly, this work highlights the greatest benefit is found when adhering to most aspects of a cancer-preventative pattern simultaneously. By looking out our whole diet and the way we live, there are clear steps we can take to minimise our risk of breast cancer.”
The WCRF’s fourth recommendation – avoiding alcohol completely – appears to be at odds with current UK and global guidance.
The UK government’s guidance advises consuming no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread across three days or more. The WHO only says “harmful use of alcohol” raises the risk of breast cancer.
Cancer Research UK says sticking to “low amounts of alcohol” reduces the risk of breast cancer.
Sally Kum, the associate director of nursing at Breast Cancer Now, a UK charity, said: “Many different things affect the risk of getting breast cancer, some that cannot be changed and some that can.
“Current national guidance states that people [should] consume no more than 14 units of alcohol a week spread across three days or more to minimise health-related impacts.
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“While we don’t yet fully understand why drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing breast cancer, around 8% of breast cancer cases are thought to be linked to drinking alcohol and we know that one alcoholic drink a day can raise your risk of breast cancer, and the more you drink the higher the risk.”
A separate report by Alcohol Change UK, also published on Wednesday, found that even low levels of alcohol use, below 14 units a week, were linked to increase risk of cancer and heart disease.
The charity is calling on the UK government to introduce better labelling on all alcoholic drinks to “clearly show health risks”.
Dr Richard Piper, the charity’s chief executive, said: “For decades, we’ve fallen prey to a binary but false idea that ‘drinking problems’ only affect a minority of people with alcohol dependence.
“But as this research makes clear, alcohol is taking a toll on our health and wellbeing right across the drinking spectrum, even at ‘low risk’ levels.”
