Working with patients diagnosed with liver, head and neck cancers, Perth oncologist Dr Bella Nguyen often sees the impacts of long-term alcohol use firsthand. Yet she says many people are unaware that alcohol is a known cause of at least 7 types of cancer.
"When someone has liver cancer, we talk about alcohol all the time," Dr Nguyen said. "But most people don't realise it can also contribute to several other cancers."
Underestimating alcohol's risk
Despite being classed as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – the same category as tobacco and asbestos – alcohol's cancer risk still flies under the radar for many Australians. Currently, only about half of Australians are aware that alcohol can cause cancer, compared to almost universal awareness of the link between smoking and cancer.
Dr Nguyen points out that, even for people who may be aware of a connection, the strength of the direct relationship between alcohol and cancer can be underestimated.
"People tend to know that smoking causes cancer. But they don't see alcohol in the same way. They might be aware that there is a link between alcohol and cancer but they don't see that alcohol causes cancer." she said. "That small difference in understanding makes a big impact on how aware people are about the risks alcohol poses."
What the research shows
The evidence is clear: alcohol directly contributes to several types of cancer.
A comprehensive meta-analysis of 572 studies and 486 538 cancer patients found a significant increase in cancer risk among those who drink alcohol, including at low or moderate levels
Alcohol is known to increase the risk of mouth, throat, oesophagus, liver, bowel and breast cancers, among others.
"Some cancers are up to five times more likely in people who drink," Dr Nguyen said. "That's not a small effect – it's a direct cause."
Why awareness matters
Dr Nguyen believes awareness is the first step towards reducing risks such as alcohol-caused cancers. However, drinking is often linked to relaxation, socialising or celebration, which she says can make it harder for people to connect alcohol with health risks.
"I feel like that's a major part of the problem. Alcohol is seen as socially acceptable. It's seen as a stress reliever. But people are often not considering the impact on their health when making decisions about how much they drink."
Because of this, Dr Nguyen supports clear, evidence-based health information and simple public awareness messages that help people to be knowledgeable about the risks.
"Even a short message like 'Alcohol causes cancer' can make people stop and think," she said. "It's not about simply telling people not to drink, it's about helping them understand the risks."
Starting the conversation
For Dr Nguyen, awareness is the first step to prevention. She hopes open, judgment-free conversations, among families, friends, and in the community, will help more Australians understand alcohol-caused risks to their health.
"It's not about guilt or fear," Dr Nguyen said. "It's about giving people the facts so they can make the best decisions for their health."
