Alcohol and cancer – awareness and positive messaging
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 27th October 2021
In the summer, a study was published that estimated in 2020 there were over 740,000 new cases globally of cancer attributable to alcohol consumption (in the UK, the estimate was nearly 17,800 new cases).[i] The authors concluded that their work highlighted the need to make people aware of the association between cancer and alcohol use.[ii] While the link is well-known among healthcare professionals, for the general public, alcohol’s impact on multiple types of cancer is “often overlooked”.[iii]
In the dental press, alcohol is a recurring topic because of its link to oral cancer, particularly in combination with smoking.[iv] Compared with 20 years ago, the number of new cases of cancers of the head and neck in the UK has increased by 97% (58% in the last decade).[v] Early diagnosis is crucial, but many people don’t know all the risk factors, or the signs and symptoms.
Facing the same future as tobacco?
Since 2007, it has been illegal to smoke indoors in any pub, restaurant and most workplaces in the UK and smoking prevalence has been in decline ever since.[vi] Could this be the future for alcohol? As well as its association with cancer, there was a rise in alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations reported in England during 2020.[vii] The data, released by Public Health England (PHE), makes for grim reading. Deaths from diseases caused by drinking increased by an astonishing 20% compared with 2019, with a 21% rise in alcohol-related liver disease.
Unlike smoking, which is broadly considered anti-social, there is a level of socially-acceptable drinking. In the media, messaging is mixed – scenes of drunk crowds get roundly condemned, but people enjoying alcohol at more sedate gatherings don’t. We can joke with colleagues about needing a glass of wine at the end of a long day in practice and we’ve been encouraged to get out to support the hospitality industry, including going to pubs and restaurants that rely on alcohol sales for a substantial proportion of their income. The NHS advise that smokers get help to quit, but gives guidelines for “low-risk” drinking, while also stating that there is no “safe” level.[viii]
The cancer burden
Yet the cancer burden of alcohol cannot be ignored. Alcohol-attributable cancers include cancer of the colon, liver, breast (female) and oral cancer.[ix] As well as the strain it puts on healthcare systems, a diagnosis of cancer is devastating for the individual and their loved ones. If smoking is an avoidable risk factor for cancer, and giving people fewer opportunities to smoke has seen a decrease in the amount who do (there is a long way to go if the government wants to reach its target of England being smoke-free in 2030, however) – why isn’t alcohol seen in the same way?
Just like smoking, people can choose to drink in their own homes; PHE’s data shows the health impact of more drinking at home during the pandemic.[x] Minimum unit pricing is one option being considered to encourage people to drink less – it already exists in Wales and Scotland the results look promising.[xi] Cancer warnings on bottles and cans are another idea.
In the UK, making alcohol consumption as anti-social as smoking would require the kind of seismic cultural shift that none of us are likely to see in our lifetime! However, there is anecdotal evidence that more people are choosing to drink less, or embracing sobriety. If not drinking at social gatherings becomes as normal as having a beer or two, this is a step in the right direction. The no and low-alcohol beverage market has also been growing steadily, thanks to increased demand for exciting alternatives for people who want to abstain, or moderate their intake.[xii]
Education is always the key to better outcomes. We want our patients to enjoy life to the full, to take control of their health, reduce their risk of life-limiting disease and feel good about themselves. More alcohol-free days might mean they sleep well, have more energy and even feel less anxious, as well as lower their risk for certain cancers, so they feel motivated to create a new habit. Diet and lifestyle should be included in oral health consultations, as well as how to improve their daily hygiene routine – TANDEX products are high-quality and will help them maintain a clean mouth between appointments. With good conversations, we can inspire them to change any behaviours that are stopping them from making the most of every day.
Many of us would have spent the last 18 months dreaming of cocktails at sunset, but with new research that confirms the link to alcohol and range of cancers, the case for moderation and mindful drinking cannot be overstated. Empower patients with the information they need to live well and stay in good health for many years to come. The UK’s drinking culture has a long and complex history, but maybe it is heading in a new direction.
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[i] Rumgay H, Shield K, Charvat H, Ferrari P, Sornpaisarn B, Obot I, Islami F, Lemmens VEPP, Rehm J, Soerjomataram I. Global burden of cancer in 2020 attributable to alcohol consumption: a population-based study. Lancet Oncol. 2021 Jul 13: S1470-2045(21)00279-5. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045 (21) 00279-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34270924.
[ii] Lancet Oncol. 2021 Jul 13: S1470-2045(21)00279-5.
[iii] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jul/13/alcohol-caused-740000-cancer-cases-globally-last-year-study
[iv] State of Mouth Cancer UK Report 2020/2021. Report produced by the Oral Health Foundation, link: https://www.dentalhealth.org/thestateofmouthcancer (accessed December 2020).
[v] State of Mouth Cancer UK Report 2020/2021.
[vi] Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2019. Office for National Statistics, 7 July 2020. Link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/adultsmokinghabitsingreatbritain/2019(accessed July 2020).
[vii] Alcohol consumption and harm during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health England, 15 July 2021. Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-consumption-and-harm-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
[viii] The risks of drinking too much. NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/the-risks-of-drinking-too-much/ (accessed July 2020).
[ix] Lancet Oncol. 2021 Jul 13: S1470-2045(21)00279-5.
[x] Public Health England, 15 July 2021.
[xi] Laslett AM, Jiang H, Room R. Minimum unit price deters heaviest alcohol purchasers. Lancet Public Health. 2021 May 28: S2468-2667(21)00095-5. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00095-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34058126.
[xii] NOLO drinks market to grow by 34% by 2024. The Drinks Business, 11 December 2020. Link: https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2020/12/nolo-drinks-market-to-grow-34-by-2024/ (accessed July 2021).
