Four out of five women do not realise drinking alcohol could
raise their risk of breast cancer, according to research.
A majority of women surveyed at a breast screening clinic
were unaware of the link and many staff were also in the dark about it.
Experts have warned alcohol's danger must be better
understood because it may cause as many as one in 10 cases of the UK's most
common cancer.
And although only 20 per cent of women knew alcohol was a
cancer risk factor, around two thirds of them admitted drinking regularly.
Both patients and staff agreed the issue should be discussed
more but both groups said they were worried about 'blaming' patients for
drinking or 'patronising' them.
Researchers from the University of Southampton surveyed 238
people involved in the breast cancer diagnosis process.
They included 103 women attending breast clinics to talk
about symptoms, 102 women going for screening, and 33 NHS staff at a breast
care centre.
Some 16 per cent of the screening group and 23 per cent of
the clinic group knew that alcohol was a risk factor for cancer.
And only 52 per cent of the clinical staff could identify
the link between the two.
Booze is actually thought to be to blame for between five
and 11 per cent of all breast cancer cases, the researchers warned.
Around 55,000 cases of the disease are diagnosed every year
in the UK, making up around 15 per cent of all cancer diagnoses. In the US, the
figure is around the 270,000 mark.
Cancer Research UK says if 1,000 women drink between three
and six units per day (one or two large glasses of wine), there is likely to be
27 extra cases of cancer than in a teetotal group.
Alcohol can increase breast cancer risk by raising levels of
hormones which accelerate tumours or by releasing DNA-damaging chemicals.
Doing more to warn people about the link between drink and
cancer could prevent cancers and save lives, said the researchers, led by
Professor Julia Sinclair.
They said: 'Over 20 per cent of women aged 45 to 64
reportedly drink more than 14 units per week.
'So any intervention to reduce [alcohol] consumption could
have a significant influence on breast cancer rates, as well as help to manage
the side effects of treatment and improve the overall health of survivors.'
People in the survey were open to the idea of having
information sessions when they went for screening or meetings with nurses or
doctors.
But both patients and staff were worried about causing
offence by blaming people for drinking so much they damaged their health.
Patients may also feel patronised, they warned, if they were
told how to look after themselves.
In their study the researchers wrote: 'Both staff and clinic
attendees showed [mixed feelings] about discussing alcohol, concerned about it
being taken as stigmatising or blaming women'.
And they added: 'In addition to time, use of additional
resources and potential cause for anxiety the staff group also mentioned
contributing to "the worried well" culture, time inefficiencies and
fears about it being seen as "blaming" or "patronising" as
potential disadvantages'.
Eluned Hughes, Public Health Specialist at Breast Cancer
Care and Breast Cancer Now, said many women aren’t aware that drinking alcohol
increases the risk of breast cancer.
She said: 'Breast cancer risk is affected by a combination
of our genes, lifestyle choices and events throughout life, and there is never
one single cause of the disease. But, with many contributing factors, it’s
vital we support more women to do what they can to help shift the odds in their
favour.
'We need to find ways to support people to drink less
without making anyone feel blamed or judged.
'It’s encouraging that this study suggests that the Breast
Screening Programme could offer a new opportunity for women and healthcare
professionals to discuss possible risk-reducing steps.'
Nearly a third of women said they would be more likely to
attend a screening appointment if they knew they would get advice on how to try
and avoid cancer.
The study also found that less than a third of people (30
per cent) realised being fat raised their risk of breast cancer, and only half
correctly identified smoking tobacco as a risk factor.
The research was published in the journal BMJ Open.
(Daily Mail)
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