Drinking alcohol is linked to six types of cancer, experts say: Its toxic

It’s long been known that no amount of alcohol is good for the body — and now new research spotlights the potential harm it can cause.More than 5% of all cancer cases are caused by drinking alcohol, according to the Cancer Progress Report 2024 from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).Among the modifiable risk factors for cancer, alcohol is the third biggest, behind obesity (7.6% of cases) and cigarette smoking (19.3%).“Excessive levels of alcohol consumption increase the risk for six different types of cancer, including certain types of head and neck cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and breast, colorectal, liver and stomach cancers,” said Rajarshi Sengupta, PhD, lead author of the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2024, in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.“Further, research shows that alcohol intake at an early age can increase the risk of cancer later in life.”Based on these findings, limiting or eliminating alcohol can reduce the risk of developing alcohol-related cancers by 8% and the risk of all cancers by 4%, the report noted.There has been a “roller coaster of information” about whether alcohol is harmful, according to addiction psychiatrist Dr.Adam Scioli of Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania.“There have even been reports for years that it could be beneficial for one’s health — but we know now that alcohol ingestion is one of the modifiable risk factors for cancer,” Scioli, who is not affiliated with AACR, told Fox News Digital.Around 75,000 Americans each year are diagnosed with a cancer that is linked in some way to alcohol use, according to Scioli. The more someone drinks — both in volume and frequency — the higher the risk, he warned.“Alcohol is a toxin,” Scioli said. “We’ve long known that it impacts any number of organs, essentially starting with the brain and working its way down to the colorectal system.”Moderate alcohol use is defined as one drink or less in one day for women. Fo...