Widespread habit may increase colorectal cancer risk more than believed

Colorectal cancer is now officially the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women ages 50 and younger, according to research from the American Cancer Society.

While some risk factors, such as age, family history, and genetics, cannot be controlled, there are some lifestyle behaviors that can increase your chances of developing the disease.

One of them is alcohol consumption, which has been linked to an increased risk of suffering from at least six different types of cancer.

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The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies alcoholic beverages as Group 1 carcinogens, meaning there is strong and sufficient evidence that it causes cancer in humans.

Dr. Tereza Cristina Sardinha, MD, chief of colon and rectal surgery services at Catholic Health in Long Island, New York, confirmed that alcohol is a well-known risk factor for all cancers, but particularly those of the gastrointestinal tract.

“The alcohol, or ethanol, will be metabolized and broken down into acetaldehyde,” he shared with News Digital. “This alcohol metabolism is very toxic to the cell’s DNA, which over time can lead to the development of cancer.”

Alcohol also changes the gut microbiome, which is another important factor in cancer risk, according to Sardinha.

“The microbiome has a significant effect on many pathogens in the colon and rectum, and diet and alcohol definitely affect the types of bacteria in the gut.”

When the gut’s “first line of defense” is disrupted, it can trigger a series of changes, particularly DNA damage, inflammation and oxidative stress within cells, the doctor said.

“These processes are closely related to the development of cancer, which is why alcohol is considered carcinogenic.”

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The relationship between alcohol and colorectal cancer risk “is dose dependent,” he said.

“Patients who drink regularly over a long period of time, i.e. at least 10 years, will have an increase in the development of colorectal cancer throughout their lives.”

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

A heavy drinker, who consumes more than two drinks a day, will be at exponentially higher risk.

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“What really makes the difference is not only the volume, but also 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 not morbidly obese, she doesn’t smoke. The only risk factor she has is alcohol.”

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

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

If someone stops drinking, the risk doesn’t go away immediately, the doctor said.

“It takes about 10 years on average to know whether the risk of cancer decreased or not,” he said. “But we do know that if you continue to drink, your risk will definitely increase.”

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“That’s why we advise patients to stop drinking or exponentially decrease their consumption, just as we tell them to exercise and increase fruits and vegetables in their diet.”

Sardinha pointed out that alcohol is not the only culprit.

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

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

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“The negative impact of spirits (hard liquor) is greater than that of beer, which is more than wine,” he told News Digital.

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

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“The effects of wine, beer and spirits were independent of each other,” the doctor said.

The context in which alcohol is consumed may also play a role, he noted.

“In the United States, alcohol is often consumed in the context of addiction, another blow to maintaining the effect,” Goodyear said. “But in some communities, like Sardina, Italy, and Ikaria, Greece, wine is part of the culture, social connections and community.”

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

Other ways to minimize risk

In addition to stopping or limiting alcohol consumption, Sardinha shared other healthy lifestyle habits that have been shown to reduce the chances of colorectal cancer.

A “huge and well-established” factor is regular exercise, he said.

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

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

“We know that if you continue to drink, your risk will definitely increase.”

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

According to the doctor, taking steps to address and prevent obesity is also a well-established way to minimize risk, as is adopting a healthy, high-fiber diet to promote proper bowel function.

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“Low-fiber diets tend to cause more constipation, and therefore if there is something carcinogenic in the food, it will have more direct and prolonged contact with the intestinal wall, with the cells, and increase the chances of DNA damage,” he said.

“Obviously, we can’t change our family history, but those good lifestyle habits will make a difference in the risk of colorectal cancer.”