Could A Glass Of Wine Or Beer A Day Increase Your Chance Of Breast Cancer?
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- According to a new study, even a small glass of wine or beer could increase a woman's risk of breast cancer.
Researchers decided to go back and take a look at more than 100 studies, which included millions of women.
For those who sip on a glass a day, the report may be disappointing.
According to two cancer research institutes, the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund, women who have a glass of wine, beer or hard liquor a day, even a small one, could increase their risk for breast cancer.
For pre-menopausal women, the risk goes up 5 percent and for post-menopausal women, the risk is even higher at 9 percent.
But the authors also found eating well and exercising could work in your favor.
"We wouldn't recommend that somebody drink four drinks a night on a weekend and assume the next morning if they go for a jog that will cure everything," says Dr. Anne McTiernan, author of study. "Women who keep their weight in a normal range, are physically active, limit their alcohol to one drink a day, that can significantly reduce risk for developing breast cancer."
But the chief of radiation oncology at Sinai Hospital thinks instead of a drink a day, it should only be one a week.
"So I think one drink a week is a reasonable thing for everybody, because it doesn't become a habit, or it becomes a relaxing thing that's the end of your week and it's one drink and you've enjoyed it, but you haven't gone to excess," says Dr. Jeanette Linder.
People on the streets in Baltimore said they are aware of the study, but that will not change their habits.
"You hear things give you cancer every other day, using plastic containers or standing next to a microwave or using your cell phone and you can't not do everything," Rose Marie Cox says.
"You have to take it with a grain of salt, like one glass of alcohol a day is good for your heart, so it's not going to make a huge impact on my drinking habits," Iris Case says.
Even though Dr. Linder recommends only one drink a week, she says patients ultimately have to make the best decision for their personal health. Especially since a glass of wine a day may decrease the risk of heart disease.
The report analyzed studies which included 12 million women and 260,000 cases of breast cancer.
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