Myth: There is no link between alcohol and breast cancer.
Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of breast cancer. Studies have shown a correlation between drinking alcohol and breast cancer risk, with risk increasing with each additional drink consumed per week.
While we don’t endorse underage drinking, it is important to know the facts about alcohol, breast cancer, and breast cancer development. Evidence shows that the risk of developing breast cancer increases for those women drinking during the decade after their period begins and before their first pregnancy. This occurs as alcohol increases the levels of estrogen and other hormones associated with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.
Studies have shown that women who drink three alcoholic drinks per week are at greater risk (15% higher) than women who don’t. This risk goes up another 10% with each additional drink consumed. Similarly, young girls ages 9 to 15 who consume alcohol regularly (three to five drinks per week), have a three times greater risk of developing non-cancerous breast lumps (some of which could be associated with a higher risk of breast cancer in later years).
