Manoj Reddy: Alcohol and Cancer – An Urgent Conversation

Manoj Reddy, Founder and President of IOWG, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“I welcome your thoughts on my article below:

Alcohol and Cancer – An Urgent Conversation

The connection between alcohol and cancer is undeniable, yet public awareness remains alarmingly low. The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, in the 2025 Surgeon General Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk, (Surgeon General Report) recently highlighted alcohol as a leading preventable cause of cancer and called for warning labels on alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol is responsible for approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer-related deaths annually in the U.S. Even light to moderate drinking increases the risk of seven cancers, including breast, colorectal, and liver cancers. Despite these concerns, public awareness of alcohol as a cancer risk remains low (Seidenberg et al., Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 2023).

Potential Mechanisms Linking Alcohol to Cancer

While the exact pathways vary by cancer type, research suggests multiple overlapping mechanisms through which alcohol increases cancer risk (Rumgay et al., Nutrients, 2021; Ratna & Mandrekar, Biomolecules, 2017; Seitz, Nature Reviews Cancer, 2007)

• Acetaldehyde Formation: Alcohol is metabolized into acetaldehyde, a carcinogenic compound that can damage DNA and impair repair mechanisms, leading to mutations. (Ratna and Madrekar, 2017).

• Oxidative Stress: Alcohol metabolism generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids, contributing to carcinogenesis.

• Hormonal Disruption: Alcohol increases estrogen levels, potentially promoting the growth of hormone-sensitive cancers like breast cancer.

• Immune System Alteration: Chronic alcohol use can suppress immune surveillance, impairing the body’s ability to detect and eliminate cancerous cells.

• Microbiome Disruption: Alcohol alters the gut microbiome, reducing beneficial bacteria and encouraging harmful microbes. This dysbiosis can lead to inflammation, toxin production, and a compromised gut barrier, contributing to cancers like colorectal cancer.

• Nutritional Deficiencies: Heavy drinking depletes nutrients like folate, which are essential for DNA synthesis and repair, increasing susceptibility to cancers such as colorectal cancer.

• Synergism with Tobacco: Alcohol acts as a solvent for tobacco carcinogens, amplifying their absorption and increasing risks for cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus.

Key Evidence from Major Studies

1. Global Burden of Alcohol and Cancer: Alcohol was linked to 740,000 cancer cases globally, with light-to-moderate drinking contributing significantly (Rumgay et al., The Lancet Oncology, 2021).

2. Meta-Analysis of Alcohol and Cancer Risk: Comprehensive meta-analysis linking alcohol consumption to cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, and breast.(Bagnardi et al., British Journal of Cancer, 2001).

3. AACR Report (2024): Alcohol contributed to 5.4% of all cancer cases in the U.S. in 2019.(AACR Cancer Progress Report, 2024).

4. EPIC Cohort Study on Skin Cancer: Found an increased risk of skin cancers, including melanoma, with higher alcohol intake (Mahamat-Saleh, International Journal of Cancer, 2022).

5. Alcohol and Lung Cancer: Linked higher alcohol consumption with increased lung cancer risk in non-smokers (Freudenheim et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2005).

Join the Conversation

How can we better educate about alcohol’s role in cancer prevention? Share your thoughts below. Let’s collaborate to amplify awareness and reduce preventable cancer cases.

Take a moment to:

Share resources from trusted organizations NCI, CDC, World Cancer Research Fund:

NCI Fact Sheet on Alcohol and Cancer
CDC: Alcohol and Cancer Risk
World Cancer Research Fund: Alcohol and Cancer

• Share this post with your network to educate others.
• Collaborate: Message me if you’re interested in joint efforts on education.”

Alcohol and Cancer Risk: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory 2025