Alcohol consumption can cause seven different types of cancer, including cancer of the mouth and throat, liver, colon, intestines and breasts, British doctors say. The risk of skin cancer is also increasing, according to a new study.
Just one glass of beer or wine a day can lead to skin cancer, according to a study published in Express. A daily 10-gram injection increased participants' risk of squamous cell skin cancer by 11% and basal cell skin cancer by 7%.
Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor of epidermal keratinocytes extending into the dermis; this type of skin cancer usually occurs on exposed areas of the skin.
Basal cell skin cancer (basalioma) is a malignant tumor that grows from the basal layer of the epithelium. The prognosis is usually favorable, such tumors, if removed in a timely manner, usually do not recur.
Experts believe that this may be caused by chemicals released during the breakdown of alcohol in the body.
“Given the high prevalence of skin cancer and alcohol consumption, changing alcohol-related behaviors could help significantly reduce the global burden of non-melanoma skin cancer,” the study says.
A daily glass of white wine increases the risk of melanoma by 13%, the doctors noted.
Melanoma is a dangerous tumor with a rapid and aggressive course. Along with squamous and basal cell carcinoma, it belongs to malignant tumors of the skin.
About 3.6% of cancer cases worldwide are associated with alcohol. This is because ethanol can be metabolized to acetaldehyde, a DNA-damaging compound.
– Non-melanoma skin cancer, which includes mainly basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, makes up the majority of skin cancers. and is also the most common malignancy in the US, the study says.
Scientists collected data from 30 studies, including one from the UK, in which participants were followed for up to 30 years. They drew conclusions by comparing alcohol consumption with 95,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer.
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