Alcohol, Tobacco, and Breast Cancer: A Study of 53 Epidemiological Studies
Author Information
Author(s): Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer
Primary Institution: Cancer Research UK
Hypothesis
What is the relationship between alcohol and tobacco consumption and the risk of breast cancer?
Conclusion
The study found that alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, while smoking has little or no independent effect.
Supporting Evidence
- Alcohol consumption increased the relative risk of breast cancer by 7.1% for each additional 10g per day.
- Women consuming 35-44g of alcohol per day had a relative risk of 1.32 for breast cancer.
- Women consuming 45g or more of alcohol per day had a relative risk of 1.46 for breast cancer.
- Smoking was not associated with breast cancer among women who reported drinking no alcohol.
Takeaway
Drinking alcohol can increase the chances of getting breast cancer, but smoking doesn't seem to have much effect on it.
Methodology
Data from 65 epidemiological studies were analyzed, focusing on alcohol and tobacco consumption among women with and without breast cancer.
Potential Biases
Potential for confounding between alcohol and tobacco consumption.
Limitations
Self-reported alcohol consumption may underestimate true intake, and the study did not account for the type of alcohol consumed.
Participant Demographics
The study included 58,515 women with invasive breast cancer and 95,067 controls, primarily from developed countries.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P<0.00001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 5.5–8.7%
Statistical Significance
p<0.00001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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