Guest Author - Carolyn Chambers Clark, ARNP, EdD

What's wrong with combining alcohol and hormones?

The combination of only 1.5 drinks a day combined with taking hormone replacement may increase your risk Of breast cancer.

Who is most at risk for breast cancer and drinking?

Women are most at risk. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 190,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today.

What does the research show about alcohol and hormones?

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have found that consuming alcohol while taking postmenopausal hormones may significantly increase the risk of breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.

The study was based on analysis of health and dietary data accumulated over 14 years from 44,187 postmenopausal women participating in the Nurses' Health Study. During the period of the study, 1,722 cases of invasive breast cancer were identified.

"Our research suggests that postmenopausal women can reduce their risk of breast cancer by modifying their alcohol consumption, especially when they are making important decisions about hormone replacement therapy," said Wendy Chen, MD, of BWH and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "While independently, both of these factors are known to impact cancer risk, the combination also needs to be considered."

Using data from the BWH-based Nurses' Health Study, researchers compared women's use of postmenopausal hormones and their alcohol intake. That data showed that postmenopausal women who consumed approximately 1.5 drinks daily were at a 30 percent greater risk of breast cancer than those who had little to no intake of alcohol. By taking postmenopausal hormones for more than five years and having on average 1.5 drinks of alcohol per day, the risk of breast cancer was almost doubled.

What you can do to reduce your risk for breast cancer

When you weigh the pros and cons of taking postmenopausal hormones, remember the BWH study. Their findings suggest that alcohol consumption is an important decision to consider. Fortunately, both alcohol intake and use of HRT are factors you can take into your own hands.

This article is for information purposes only. For treatment, consult your health care practitioner.

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