Many people are concerned about alcohol drinking and stomach cancer. Does drinking alcohol cause stomach cancer? And will drinking increase the risk of getting the disease?

         Overview

I.   Alcohol Not a Risk

II.  Risk Factors

III. Symptoms of Stomach Cancer

IV.  Alcohol and Health

V.   Resources

I. Alcohol Not a Risk

Fortunately, the moderate drinking of alcohol is not a risk factor for stomach or gastric cancer. Major medical groups have made this conclusion after analyzing all the evidence. Among many others, they include these groups.

• • Nat Inst of Health.
  • Am Cancer Soc.
  • Nat Cancer Inst.
  • Am Soc of Clin Oncology.

II. Risk Factors

H pylori

Over 10,000 people die each year in the US from stomach or gastric cancer. It appears that the cause of most stomach cancer is infection from Helicobacter pylori (H pylori). There is strong evidence that alcohol drinking fights H pylori infection.¹ Yet most people who have this germ in their stomachs never develop cancer.

There are many other risk factors for gastric cancer. Although having risk factors increases the chances of cancer, many victims have no risk factors.

Other Risk Factors

• • Male
  • Age (late 60s and older).
  • Smoking tobacco .(Doubles the risk.)
  • Working in the coal, metal, or rubber industry.
  • Type A blood.
  • Family history of stomach cancer.
  • Stomach surgery.
  • Asian or Pacific Islander, Hispanic American or African American.
  • Living in China, Japan, southern and eastern Europe, and Central and South America.
  • Cured meats, smoked foods, salted fish, or pickled vegetables in large amounts.
  • Pernicious anemia.
  • Some types of stomach polyps.
  • Menetrier disease.
  • MALT lymphoma.
  • Epstein-Barr virus.

III. Symptoms of Stomach Cancer

• • Abdominal pain.
  • Belching
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Vomiting blood.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Problem swallowing.
  • Heartburn
  • Indigestion
  • Dark Stools.
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Premature abdominal fullness after eating.
  • Vague abdominal fullness.
  • Weakness or fatigue.
  • Unwanted weight loss.
  • General decline in health.

A person experiencing any of these symptoms should see a doctor.

IV. Alcohol and Health

Moderate drinking is not a risk factor for stomach cancer. On the other hand, moderate drinkers tend to have better health and longer lives. That’s compared to either abstainers or alcohol abusers.

A federal agency (NIAAA) has described drinking in moderation. It’s a man having two drinks per day. For women, it’s having one drink per day..

Standard drinks have the amount of pure alcohol. It’s 0.6 ounce.

No form of alcohol gives more health benefits than any other. So beer, wine, or spirits (liquor) are equally helpful.

V. Resources: Drinking and Stomach Cancer

Web

• • Alcohol and H. pylori Infection.
  • Alcohol and Colorectal Cancer.

Popular Books

• • Crocker, B. Living with Cancer Cookbook.
  • Eyre, H., et al. The Complete Book of Cancer.
  • Fleming, S., et al. H. Pylori. (Juv)
  • Kushi, M. and Jack, A. The Cancer Prevention Diet.
  • Shah, M., et al. 100 Questions & Answers about Gastric Cancer.

Footnote

1. 1. Alcohol and H. pylori Infection.

Note

• • This site gives no advice. Please see your doctor for alcohol and stomach cancer concerns.