Taking the pledge reduces risk of esophageal, head and neck cancers

Written by Dr. H. P. Bustami

Friday, 31 August 2007

Alcohol - a daily drug that can cause head and neck cancer

Drinking alcohol is common in western societies and part of our daily life. But drinking too much causes severe addiction with numerous diseases following an alcoholic career of many years. One of the deadly consequences can be different types of cancers as head, neck or esophageal cancer. A pooled analysis of 5000 cases from 13 different studies now revealed that a Withdrawal from alcohol can in the long term reduce the risk of getting one of these cancer forms back to a normal level.

The scientists point out that between 15 and 30 years can elapse before the cancerogenic factors lead to an outbreak of the tumors. After some 20 years former alcoholics have the same risk of getting cancer as non drinkers. So taking the pledge always pays off. Nevertheless: drinking little and controlled is still the better choice.

Source: Rehm et al. (2007) Alcohol drinking cessation and its effect on esophageal and head and neck cancers : A pooled analysis; "International Journal of Cancer" (IJC), Volume 121 (5).

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