Wine 'linked to cancer recurrence'

(UKPA) – Drinking just a few glasses of wine a week can increase the risk of breast cancer returning, a study has found.

Consuming at least three to four alcoholic drinks a week was associated with a 1.3-fold greater chance of disease recurrence.

Among almost 2,000 women studied, the risk was greatest among those who drank two or more glasses of wine a day.

Women who were post-menopausal or overweight were the most susceptible to alcohol, the research showed. A consumption level of fewer than three drinks per week appeared to do no harm. The findings were presented at a breast cancer conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Chief scientists Dr Marilyn Kwan, from Californian health provider Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, said: "Women previously diagnosed with breast cancer should consider limiting their consumption of alcohol to less than three drinks per week, especially women who are post-menopausal, and overweight or obese."

The Life After Cancer Epidemiology (Lace) study looked at 1,897 breast cancer survivors who had been diagnosed with early-stage disease between 1997 and 2000.

Participants recorded their consumption of wine, beer and spirits over a period of eight years. During this time, 349 of the women suffered a recurrence of breast cancer and 332 died. Among regular drinkers, who accounted for half the study group, 90% preferred wine, 43% spirits, and 36% beer.

An increased risk of cancer recurrence was most predominant in those who drank two or more glasses of wine a day. However, other kinds of drink were also associated with increased risk.

Dr Kwan, who presented the findings at the CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, said: "These results can help women make more informed decisions about lifestyle choices after a diagnosis of breast cancer."

Previous research has shown that alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer developing. More than 45,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK and about 12,000 die from the disease.