North East drinkers raising their risks of an alcohol related cancer
North East drinkers are more likely to be drinking above recommended limits, putting themselves at greater risk of a range of different cancers including mouth, throat, oesophageal and bowel cancer.
That is the warning from Balance as a hard hitting new campaign launches today (4 Sept) urging people to take action to reduce their risk of seven types of cancer by taking more days off drinking for the sake of their health, family and loved ones.
Sales figures show enough alcohol is being sold in the North East for drinkers to consume 22.3 units per week on average compared to the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance which recommends no more than 14 units. That compares to the England and Wales average of 20.8 units sold per drinker, potentially putting people in the region at higher risk of 7 different cancers, including mouth, throat, oesophagus, breast and bowel.
Alcohol causes nearly a third (30%) of mouth and pharynx (throat) cancers, over a fifth (21%) of oesophageal cancers, over one in ten (12%) bowel cancers, 9% of liver cancers, 25% of laryngeal cancers and 6% of breast cancers .
Most recent data shows that nearly a third (32%) of all new cancer cases registered in the North East – some 5,374 in 2015 – were made up of these cancer types.
The latest Chief Medical Officer’s drinking guidelines advise no more than 14 units per week to keep health risks low – that’s around six standard glasses of wine or six pints of beer or lager per week.
People are being encouraged to visit www.reducemyrisk.tv to participate in a short quiz about their drinking habits and download free tools like the Days Off app and Drinks Tracker.
Colin Shevills, Director of Balance, said: “It is everyone’s right to know the fact that regular drinking, even one drink a day, increases your risk of some types of cancer, even if that might feel hard to accept.
"One of the problems is we have very low awareness of the risks. Many people think they are drinking moderately, but are actually in the higher risk category. The recycling bin can show you just how much you are drinking.
“Cutting down on alcohol consumption can reduce people’s risk and it is sometimes easier than you might think. Taking a few days off a week from alcohol can be a really good way to reduce your intake."
Dr Tony Branson, Medical Director for the North East Cancer Network, said: “Just like tobacco, alcohol is a cause of cancers of the bowel, mouth, throat and oesophagus.
“When we drink, alcohol in our bodies is converted into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde which causes cancer by damaging DNA and stopping our cells from repairing this damage. But public awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer is very low.”
“It is very easy for the units to mount up. There is no "safe" limit but reducing how much you drink can help to reduce the risk.”
Amanda Healy, Director of Public Health at Durham County Council and Chair of the North East Directors of Public Health Network, said: "We are encouraging people who are concerned about their drinking to consider ways to cut down. Taking more days off is a really easy and practical way which can also mean feeling healthier, losing weight and saving money.
“As a nation we are drinking far too much. This not only stores up health problems for the future for families but means people are being diagnosed with alcohol related diseases at a younger age. Children want their parents to be around and be fit and healthy when they grow up.”
The Balance campaign, which launches on Sept 4, will see a new hard hitting TV advert showing a family and a child worrying about her dad’s regular drinking.
The campaign is also being supported by Cancer Research UK.