Respond to each discussion boards independently in 2 separate paragraph with 1 references each.
Ikenna Nwachukwu
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) works and tries to identify carcinogenic (cancer causing) hazards to humans. In 1988 they tried to look for a relationship between the consumption of alcohol and cancer. More specifically in areas of the oral cavity. The pharynx, larynx, esophagus in addition to the liver. With new updates adding female breast cancer to the list of cancers linked to alcohol. Since then conving research has been found on the connection between the consumption of alcohol. This concept is a major health concern in the European Union. Where cancer is the most alcohol-attributed mortalities than other diseases. However it is uncertain if there is a connection between alcohol and cancer of the lungs, pancreas, and skin. As well as how light drinking affects cancer risks. It has been observed that the cessation of alcohol has decreased cancer risk. Unsurprisingly countries that consume more alcohol experience higher rates of alcohol attributed cancers. Such as esophageal cancer. That being said, the link between alcohol and cancer is not as well known to the public. Compared to tobacco, alcohol has been a part of various cultures for so much longer. Not only that the cancer risk may also be a result of lack of warning labels on beverages.
Rehm, J., Soerjomataram, I., Ferreira-Borges, C. et al. Does Alcohol Use Affect Cancer Risk?. Curr Nutr Rep 8, 222–229 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-019-0267-0
Keegan Savage
The scholarly article that I found was “Awareness of breast cancer risk related to a positive family history and alcohol consumption among women aged 15-44 years in the United States”. This study was from January 2019 and I found it especially interesting because New England was included in some of the research!
This article believes that there is a link between cancer and alcohol consumption, in this case they were looking specifically at breast cancer. Researchers believe that, “awareness of two risk factors for breast cancer, positive family history and alcohol consumption” (Jaya, 2020) are extremely important. There is so much that we can do with new knowledge, and spreading the information about the link between drinking and cancer is so important. We can potentially use this to decrease someone’s risk of developing breast cancer. It is important to spread knowledge around because, “Awareness of alcohol consumption as a risk factor for breast cancer was low across all socioeconomic groups” (Jaya, 2020). Since it is not a known fact to be linked to breast cancer, I think it is extremely important that we bring attention to this and educate people. We could be saving lots of lives and family heartache. If people are able to understand the link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer it is possible they can, “ disrupt the etiological pathway from susceptibility to clinical manifestation” (Jaya, 2020). Basically meaning that they can potentially play a role in stopping their bodies from developing breast cancer, or decreasing their risk at developing it.
This research looked into how many people know about the potential link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. In specific it was found that, “current drinkers were more likely to believe that alcohol was not a risk factor for breast cancer compared to those who did not drink” (Jaya, 2020). I believe this is a phenomenon for most people. Of course, as humans we tend to think our actions are the appropriate ones and will not harm us. I am definitely someone who subconsciously does this too.
I also found another really interesting thing in this article. Personally, I never knew there was a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. If I knew this sooner I probably would have never drank since breast cancer runs in my family. But, in this article it states that, “83% of respondents were aware of alcohol consumption as a risk factor for liver cancer” (Jaya, 2020). This is the cancer that I also associated alcohol consumption with. I would never have correlated breast cancer with it as well. I am not alone in this thought as, “awareness of the association between alcohol consumption and breast cancer was less than 30%” (Jaya, 2020). I find this extremely interesting but also eye opening. This shows how we need to spread knowledge and educate more people, including ones who are going into the healthcare field!
Jaya S. Khushalani, Jin Qin, Donatus U. Ekwueme, & Arica White. (2020). Awareness of breast cancer risk related to a positive family history and alcohol consumption among women aged 15–44 years in United States. Preventive Medicine Reports, 17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.101029
