Data reveals direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer diagnoses in Queensland

A new data reveals a direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer diagnoses in Queensland residents, with a number of people dying from alcohol-related cancer. About 200 female breast cancers, 185 oral cavity and pharynx cancers, 170 colon cancers and 40 liver cancers in Queensland are likely caused by unhealthy drinking habits annually.

The new data from the Cancer Council Queensland also shows that 760 cases of cancer and 210 deaths in Queensland could be attributed to alcohol consumption annually. It now calls for greater awareness around the risks linked with alcohol consumption.

Cancer Council Queensland CEO Chris McMillan said ignorance is a huge contributing factor. He noted that the recent yearly alcohol poll for this year showed that people still have a very low awareness of the long-term health conditions linked with alcohol consumption.

“Of those surveyed, only 26 per cent of people were aware of the link between alcohol misuse and mouth and throat cancer and only 16 per cent were aware of the link to breast cancer,” news.com.au reported McMillan as saying. He said it is important that more people are aware of all types of cancer and chronic diseases that can result from too much drinking.

Queensland has a specific issue with booze, with 1.1 million adults in the Sunshine State alone having a drink more than the suggested single occasion intake of alcohol at least once a month. Cancer Council Queensland’s recommendation is to quit drinking altogether or limit their alcohol consumption at the very least to avoid the threat of acquiring disease.

The guidelines set out by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) state that individuals must consume no more than two standard drinks on any day. Doing so will cut the lifetime risk of alcohol-related disease. Revised national guidelines are expected to be released next year after further investigation by NHMRC.

A separate report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare also provides insights about the nation’s problem with alcohol and drugs. It shows that men are twice as likely to suffer from their impacts than women.

The AIHW revealed the burden illicit drugs and alcohol have on the health of Aussies in its analysis of the last Australian Burden of Disease Study, published in 2016. It shows that the two combined were to be blamed for 4.5 percent of all deaths in the country in 2011, which equated to 6660 deaths.