Alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in the US doubled between 1990 and 2023, according to a study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas.Using more than three decades of Global Burden of Disease data, researchers found that annual alcohol-attributable cancer deaths rose from 11,361 in 1990 to 23,126 in 2023.Men and adults aged 55 and older experienced the greatest burden, but increases were seen across most cancer types, age groups and regions.Among older men, liver cancer accounted for the highest alcohol-attributable mortality rates, followed by esophageal and colorectal cancers. Among women, breast cancer represented the leading source of alcohol-attributable cancer mortality.Colorectal Cancer Leads In Younger MenThe study also identified concerning patterns among younger adults. For men aged 20 to 54, colorectal cancer was the leading alcohol-attributable cause of cancer death. Among women in the same age group, breast cancer ranked first, followed by colorectal cancer.“Notably, among adults aged 20 to 54, colorectal cancer was the leading cause of alcohol-attributable cancer mortality in men and the second leading cause in women, surpassing liver cancer in both groups,” Jani said.Alcohol And Cancer RiskWhile it is commonly known that alcohol damages the liver, the new study highlights that its impact extends beyond liver cancer, with growing burdens from colorectal, breast, esophageal, pancreatic and other cancers.Alcohol has long been recognized as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, in the same category as tobacco smoke and asbestos. Scientific evidence links alcohol consumption to cancers of the breast, liver, esophagus, colorectum and several head and neck sites.“The most surprising finding was the breadth of alcohol’s potential impact across cancer types,” said Chinmay Jani, chief fellow in hematology and oncology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.“Although its relationship with liver cancer is widely recognized, its contribution to cancers such as colorectal, esophageal, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer is less well understood by the public.”Alcohol As A Modifiable Risk FactorGilberto Lopes, chief of the Division of Medical Oncology at Sylvester, said the findings reinforce the importance of giving people clear information about lifestyle factors that influence cancer risk.“What this study makes clear is that alcohol-related cancer risk is not limited to one disease or one group of people,” Lopes said. “As physicians and cancer researchers, we have an opportunity to help patients understand that alcohol is a modifiable risk factor and that even small, informed changes can be part of a broader strategy to reduce cancer risk in our community.”Despite increasing scientific evidence, public awareness of the alcohol-cancer connection remains relatively low compared with awareness of other risk factors such as tobacco use.“The most important takeaway is greater awareness that alcohol may affect cancer risk beyond the liver,” Jani said.“These findings highlight alcohol as a potentially modifiable risk factor, and while the lowest safe dose is not yet known, this study suggests that reducing consumption to the lowest amount feasible for each individual may help lessen its impact on cancer risk and overall health.”