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| Binge drinking raises cancer risk | Binge drinking raises cancer risk |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Women who drink the equivalent of roughly two bottles of wine over a weekend more than double their risk of breast cancer, say Danish researchers. | Women who drink the equivalent of roughly two bottles of wine over a weekend more than double their risk of breast cancer, say Danish researchers. |
| A study of 17,647 nurses found twice the risk of breast cancer in women who drank 22-27 drinks a week compared with those who drank one to three drinks. | A study of 17,647 nurses found twice the risk of breast cancer in women who drank 22-27 drinks a week compared with those who drank one to three drinks. |
| The risk was greatest when drinks were consumed in a short period, reported the European Journal of Public Health. | The risk was greatest when drinks were consumed in a short period, reported the European Journal of Public Health. |
| Experts said women should try and limit the amount of alcohol they drank. | Experts said women should try and limit the amount of alcohol they drank. |
| Women in the study were aged over 44, and most drank a moderate amount of alcohol. | Women in the study were aged over 44, and most drank a moderate amount of alcohol. |
| A drink was classed as a bottle of beer or a glass of wine or spirit, which in Denmark is roughly 12g of alcohol. | A drink was classed as a bottle of beer or a glass of wine or spirit, which in Denmark is roughly 12g of alcohol. |
| Even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer Dr Alison Ross, Cancer Research UK | Even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer Dr Alison Ross, Cancer Research UK |
| In the UK, a unit of alcohol is around 8g. | In the UK, a unit of alcohol is around 8g. |
| More than a quarter of the women drank more than the recommended 14 drinks a week. | More than a quarter of the women drank more than the recommended 14 drinks a week. |
| One in 10 were week-day binge drinkers, having more than four drinks a day and 13% were weekend binge drinkers, defined as more than 10 drinks between Friday and Sunday. | One in 10 were week-day binge drinkers, having more than four drinks a day and 13% were weekend binge drinkers, defined as more than 10 drinks between Friday and Sunday. |
| There was a 2% increased risk of breast cancer for each additional drink consumed, but at weekends there was a 4% increased risk with each additional drink. | There was a 2% increased risk of breast cancer for each additional drink consumed, but at weekends there was a 4% increased risk with each additional drink. |
| The researchers said this was because more drinks were likely to be consumed in a weekend drinking session. | The researchers said this was because more drinks were likely to be consumed in a weekend drinking session. |
| Drinking 22-27 drinks over the course of the week was linked to a 130% increased risk. | Drinking 22-27 drinks over the course of the week was linked to a 130% increased risk. |
| Those who drank excessively on just one day during the week increased their risk by 55%. | Those who drank excessively on just one day during the week increased their risk by 55%. |
| Oestrogen | Oestrogen |
| The researchers said higher alcohol intake may increase levels of oestrogen - a hormone associated with the development of breast cancer. | The researchers said higher alcohol intake may increase levels of oestrogen - a hormone associated with the development of breast cancer. |
| Dr Lina Morch a researcher in the Centre for Alcohol Research in Denmark, who led the study, said: "What our study suggests is that the total amount of alcohol consumed has a detrimental effect on the risk of breast cancer, but also the drinking pattern seems to have an impact on the risk. | |
| "When more drinks are consumed within a limited time frame the concentration of alcohol in the blood peaks, which we suppose is more harmful than when the same amount of alcohol is consumed over longer time periods." | |
| She advised women to drink moderate amounts of alcohol and to avoid consuming lots of drinks in one day. | |
| Figures from the Health Survey for England in 2003 showed that 23% of women aged between 16 and 24 drank over 21 units a week. | Figures from the Health Survey for England in 2003 showed that 23% of women aged between 16 and 24 drank over 21 units a week. |
| A previous study by Cancer Research UK found that a woman's risk of breast cancer increases with every additional daily drink of alcohol. | A previous study by Cancer Research UK found that a woman's risk of breast cancer increases with every additional daily drink of alcohol. |
| Dr Alison Ross, Cancer Research UK's science information officer, said: "Researchers estimate that alcohol causes at least 2,000 breast cancer cases every year in the UK. | Dr Alison Ross, Cancer Research UK's science information officer, said: "Researchers estimate that alcohol causes at least 2,000 breast cancer cases every year in the UK. |
| "Even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer. Other research has shown an increase of risk of 7% for each alcoholic drink consumed on a daily basis. | "Even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer. Other research has shown an increase of risk of 7% for each alcoholic drink consumed on a daily basis. |
| "To reduce the risk of breast cancer our advice remains to limit the amount of alcohol you drink and try to keep a healthy body weight." | "To reduce the risk of breast cancer our advice remains to limit the amount of alcohol you drink and try to keep a healthy body weight." |
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