Report Tallies Cancer Deaths from Alcohol

Alcohol causes about 3.5% of all U.S. cancer deaths and 15% of breast cancer deaths, a new report says. Most of the increased cancer risk is among people who have more than 3 drinks a day. But those who had an average of 1.5 drinks a day accounted for nearly one-third of the deaths, the report says. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute did the study. It’s the first thorough look at the links between alcohol and cancer in more than 30 years. They used information from several databases and surveys. The study estimated that alcohol caused 18,000 to 21,000 cancer deaths in 2009. Breast cancer was the most common type linked with alcohol in women. Among men, cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus accounted for the most deaths. An expert interviewed by the New York Times News Service said the report failed to account for the effect of drinking patterns.