• 9/30/2007
  • Lisle, IL
  • David Liu
  • foodconsumer.org

Drinking alcohol increases risk of head and neck cancer, but stopping use of alcoholic drinks reduces the risk, according to a new study published in the September 2007 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

The study led by researchers at the Centre for Addition and mental Health (CAMH), Ontario, Canada, showed a relationship between alcohol consumption and an increased risk for cancer of the esophagus, larynx and oral cavity.

In the epidemiologic study, CAMH Principal Investigator Dr. Jürgen Rehm and colleagues analyzed literature from 1966 to 2006 and found that the risk of esophageal cancer almost doubled in the first two years following cessation of alcohol drinking.

The researchers explained that many people stopped drinking at a time they might have developed a condition, which might manifest two years after the cessation of alcohol drinking.

But the risk decreased rapidly and significantly later. They found after ten years of cessation, risk of head and neck cancer decreased significantly.

After 20 years, the risks for both cancers were similar to those for people who had never been drinking alcoholic beverages.

Dr. Rehm said “Alcohol cessation has very similar effects on risk for head and neck cancers as smoking cessation has on lung cancer. It takes about two decades before the risk is back to the risk of those who were never drinkers or never smokers.”

Drinking alcohol has been associated with a number of other cancers including breast, liver and colorectal cancers. But further studies are needed to clarify the inconsistency of previous studies, the researchers said.