Alcohol and breast cancer. It’s a scary subject. But a vey important one.

The Study: Alcohol and Breast Cancer

Researchers studied the connection between drinking alcohol and breast cancer. They wanted to learn the role of family breast cancer history and folate consumption on the disease.

To do so, they followed 93,835 women in the US aged 27 to 44 for 20 years. The women were in the Nurses’ Health Study II. All gave alcohol drinking information at the beginning of the study.

The researchers studied alcohol and folate intake every four years thereafter. They found that overall risk of breast cancer was not related to alcohol drinking.

But higher drinking was linked with increased risk of breast cancer among one group. It was those with both family history of breast cancer and lower folate intake.

Folate.

We can’t change our family history. But we can increase our intake of folate. Folate is  another name for folic acid or vitamin B9. Folate is an essential nutrient. So countries such as the US, Canada, and Chile require various foods to be enriched with it. Most commonly enriched is flour and breakfast cereals.

The word folate comes from the Latin “folium.” That means leaf. Leafy vegetables such as spinach and lettuce, are great sources of folate. Other foods high in folate include asparagus, avocados, and Brussels sprouts. Of course, folate is also available as a nutritional supplement.

Much research reports that folate reduces any risk of alcohol and breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

Symptoms of breast cancer differ from person to person. But any change in a breast or nipple might be a sign of the disease. So see a doctor if you have any of these signs.

• • Dimpling of the skin or skin irritation.
  • Discharge from a nipple (other than milk).
  • Lump in the underarm area.
  • Nipple pain or nipple turning inward.
  • Pain in a breast.
  • Redness or thickening of breast skin or nipple.
  • Swelling of part or all of a breast.

Breast self-examination is the best way to detect possible signs of breast cancer early. Learn how. It’s easy. And it could save your life. Remember that the sooner breast cancer is detected, the greater the chance of successful treatment.

Resources

Videos

• • Living with Breast Cancer. San Francisco: Kanopy. eVideo.
  • Lindenmuth, K., et al. Caring for the Caregivers. Living with Cancer. Libra Verde. DVD video.

Readings

• • Am Cancer Soc. Breast Cancer Clear & Simple: All Your Questions Answered. Atlanta: The Soc.
  • Breast Cancer Sourcebook. Detroit: Omni.
  • Bidwell, C. Cancer Insights: Chronicles of a Couple’s Journey through Breast Cancer. La Vergne, TN: IngramSpark.
  • Bryfonski, D. Breast Cancer. Farmington Hills, MI: Green.
  • Buratovich, M., and Jackson-Grusby, L. Cancer. Ipswich, MA: Salem.
  • Conley, E. The Breast Cancer Prevention Plan. NY: McGraw-Hill.
  • Crocker, B. Betty Crocker Living with Cancer Cookbook. Hoboken: Wiley.
  • Elk, R., et al. Breast Cancer for Dummies. Milton, Qld: John Wiley.
  • Gafni, R. Ramy Gafni’s Beauty Therapy. NY: Evans.
  • Gingrass, S. I’ve got Breast Cancer – Now What?. Adriel.
  • Harrison, T. In-between Days. A Graphic Memoir about Living with Cancer. Toronto: Anansi.
  • Krychman, M. 100 Questions and Answers for Women Living with Cancer. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
  • Link, J. Breast Cancer Survival Manual. NY: Owl, 2012.

Source

Kim, J., Jung, S., Eliassen, A., Chen, W., Willett, W., and Cho, E. Alcohol and breast cancer risk by family history of breast cancer and folate intake in younger women. Am J Epid., 2017. Epub ahead of print.

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This site gives no advice. Please see a doctor for that.