Alcohol-cancer risk would prompt New Yorkers to cut back on drinking, Mount Sinai South Nassau poll finds
Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory on alcohol and cancer risk earlier this year, calling for updated warning labels on alcoholic beverages that highlight this connection. Credit: Howard Simmons
The troubling link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk would prompt more than half of New Yorkers surveyed to cut back on drinking, according to the latest Mount Sinai South Nassau "Truth in Medicine" poll, released on Wednesday.
And while 46% of those interviewed said they believe alcohol use can increase the risk of cancer, the remaining 54% said they didn’t think so, weren’t sure, or refused to answer the question.
Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory on alcohol and cancer risk earlier this year, calling for updated warning labels on alcoholic beverages that highlight this connection.
Dr. Rajiv Datta, medical director of the cancer program and the chair of the Department of Surgery at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, noted that scientists believed more than 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths were caused by alcohol every year.
"There are a lot of organ sites which are involved besides the mouth, throat, and voice box," he said. "It can also increase the risk of breast, colorectal, liver and esophageal cancer."
The poll, sponsored by FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, surveyed 600 adults on Long Island and in New York City on the phone between Jan. 26 and 30. They were asked a series of questions about alcohol use, the surgeon general’s advisory and how much they knew about the link between cancer risk and alcohol use.
The hospital will release the poll officially on Wednesday with a media briefing that brings together experts and community leaders.
When asked how often they drink, 19% said weekly, 26% said less than weekly but occasionally and 26% said rarely. Of those who said they drink weekly or more often, 21% said they consume 1 to 3 drinks per week; 36% said 4 to 7 drinks a week; 22% said 8 to 14 drinks a week and 14% said 15 or more.
Almost half, 46%, said they were aware of the surgeon general’s advisory about cancer and alcohol. Additionally, 46% said they believed alcohol use could increase the risk of cancer while 54% said no, they weren’t sure or refused to answer.
And 58% said they believed there was a safe level of alcohol consumption that would not increase cancer risk.
"There’s no safe amount of alcohol in reality, because there's no level that we can say definitively, "OK, one glass a week won't give you cancer, or will give you a little cancer," said Dr. Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau. "It’s all about choices that people have to make and giving them the information so that at least they make an informed decision."
Experts say there are multiple ways that alcohol can cause cancer: by altering hormones; creating oxidative stress that can damage DNA, proteins and cells, causing inflammation; breaking down into acetaldehyde that damages DNA; and by allowing for greater absorption of carcinogens.
"People are generally aware that if you drink a lot of alcohol, there may be toxicity to the liver or that it might cause liver or stomach cancer," said Dr. Timothy Tiutan, an oncology hospitalist and spokesman for the American Cancer Society. "But what people don't realize is that there is an increased risk of cancer even in organs not directly connected to your GI [gastrointestinal] tract."
Tiutan believes updated warning labels would be effective, he said.
"I’m a firm believer that repetition really does help reinforce accurate medical information," Tiutan said. "And if something as 'simple' as a label forces a person to think twice, even for a split second, there's enough momentum that it will hopefully help drive positive changes in drinking habits."
The troubling link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk would prompt more than half of New Yorkers surveyed to cut back on drinking, according to the latest Mount Sinai South Nassau "Truth in Medicine" poll, released on Wednesday.
And while 46% of those interviewed said they believe alcohol use can increase the risk of cancer, the remaining 54% said they didn’t think so, weren’t sure, or refused to answer the question.
Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory on alcohol and cancer risk earlier this year, calling for updated warning labels on alcoholic beverages that highlight this connection.
Dr. Rajiv Datta, medical director of the cancer program and the chair of the Department of Surgery at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, noted that scientists believed more than 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths were caused by alcohol every year.
"There are a lot of organ sites which are involved besides the mouth, throat, and voice box," he said. "It can also increase the risk of breast, colorectal, liver and esophageal cancer."
The poll, sponsored by FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, surveyed 600 adults on Long Island and in New York City on the phone between Jan. 26 and 30. They were asked a series of questions about alcohol use, the surgeon general’s advisory and how much they knew about the link between cancer risk and alcohol use.
The hospital will release the poll officially on Wednesday with a media briefing that brings together experts and community leaders.
When asked how often they drink, 19% said weekly, 26% said less than weekly but occasionally and 26% said rarely. Of those who said they drink weekly or more often, 21% said they consume 1 to 3 drinks per week; 36% said 4 to 7 drinks a week; 22% said 8 to 14 drinks a week and 14% said 15 or more.
Almost half, 46%, said they were aware of the surgeon general’s advisory about cancer and alcohol. Additionally, 46% said they believed alcohol use could increase the risk of cancer while 54% said no, they weren’t sure or refused to answer.
And 58% said they believed there was a safe level of alcohol consumption that would not increase cancer risk.
"There’s no safe amount of alcohol in reality, because there's no level that we can say definitively, "OK, one glass a week won't give you cancer, or will give you a little cancer," said Dr. Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau. "It’s all about choices that people have to make and giving them the information so that at least they make an informed decision."
Experts say there are multiple ways that alcohol can cause cancer: by altering hormones; creating oxidative stress that can damage DNA, proteins and cells, causing inflammation; breaking down into acetaldehyde that damages DNA; and by allowing for greater absorption of carcinogens.
"People are generally aware that if you drink a lot of alcohol, there may be toxicity to the liver or that it might cause liver or stomach cancer," said Dr. Timothy Tiutan, an oncology hospitalist and spokesman for the American Cancer Society. "But what people don't realize is that there is an increased risk of cancer even in organs not directly connected to your GI [gastrointestinal] tract."
Tiutan believes updated warning labels would be effective, he said.
"I’m a firm believer that repetition really does help reinforce accurate medical information," Tiutan said. "And if something as 'simple' as a label forces a person to think twice, even for a split second, there's enough momentum that it will hopefully help drive positive changes in drinking habits."
Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.
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