How alcohol causes 7 cancers

Alcohol in the body is metabolized into acetaldehyde and increases the absorption of substances that cause cancer of the oral cavity, throat, larynx, esophagus, colon, liver and breast cancer in women.

Vietnam is facing a growing problem of non-communicable diseases, including cancer, which is responsible for 18% of all deaths nationwide.Among the causative agents of the disease, alcohol must be mentioned. The World Cancer Research Organization classifies ethanol as a substance that causes 7 types of cancer including: oral cavity, throat, larynx, esophagus, colon, liver and breast cancer in women. The reason isAlcohol makes it easier for carcinogens to enter the body, as does smoking...

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine Truong Dinh Bac, many people think that drinking alcohol only causes liver cancer, but in fact it affects many organs in the body.."In Vietnam, alcohol is very cheap and easy to buy. Everyone, even children, can buy it.People's awareness of the harmful effects of alcohol on health is not high, so controlling its harmful effects is very difficult," said Dr. Bac.

The process of cancer cell metastasis in the body

A healthy liver can detoxify 2 units of alcohol a day. The more alcohol you drink, the harder your liver has to work, increasing your risk of liver cancer and cirrhosis.According to Dr. Tran Thanh Huong, Deputy Director of Cancer Research, Central Cancer Hospital (Hanoi), alcohol causes cancer through the following 6 mechanisms:

Alcohol is metabolized into acetaldehyde, a carcinogen.

When entering the body, under the effect of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, alcohol is oxidized intoacetaldehyde, a substance that causes cancer by damaging genes.

Drinking alcohol increasesAcetaldehyde in saliva damages DNA in cells lining the mouth, throat, esophagus, and upper respiratory tract.

Increases estrogen levels

Alcohol increases the levelestrogen and activate insulin-like growth factor receptors, which in turn trigger the proliferation of mammary gland cells leading to breast cancer.

Alcohol causes cirrhosis, leading to liver cancer

Alcohol causes cirrhosis, liver cell damage, which leads to liver cancer.

Alcohol increases the absorption of carcinogens

Alcohol makes it easier for carcinogens to enter the body, as does smoking.

Alcohol reduces blood folate levels.

Alcohol alters folate metabolism, folate malabsorption interferes with DNA methylation, leading to cancer.

Alcohol stimulates the body to produce highly active molecules

Stimulant alcoholThe body produces highly reactive molecules; these molecules often damage cell DNA leading to cancer.

See more: Symptoms of liver cancer

According to VNE