Could a glass of wine help a woman beat breast cancer? Drink could help survival chances increase by a fifth

New findings: Women diagnosed with breast cancer who drank three and a half small glasses of wine a week were 10% more likely to survive than non drinkers

A glass of wine a day boosts the survival chances of women with breast cancer by up to a fifth, scientists have found. Those who drink in moderation are more likely to recover from the illness than those who abstain. But the findings are somewhat unexpected because drinking alcohol is considered to be one of the leading causes of breast cancer among healthy women.

One explanation is that the chemicals in alcohol, which damage healthy cells also have the same effect on cancerous cells. There are currently no specific guidelines for breast cancer patients on alcohol consumption, but healthy women are advised to drink no more than 14 units a week. Many women with cancer stop drinking in the hope it will boost the success of their treatment.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge looked at 13,525 women with breast cancer for an average of seven years, making it the largest study of its kind. They recorded the average weekly alcohol intake for each patient as well as their body mass index.  Women who drank seven units a week – three and a half small glasses of wine – were 10 per cent more likely to survive than those who had nothing. The odds increased to 20 per cent if women drank 14 units a week. Dr Paul Pharoah, of the university’s Department of Oncology, said: ‘What our study says is that it is reasonable, if you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, to enjoy the occasional drink of alcohol.’

 

Raising the odds: Those who drank seven small glasses of wine a week were 20 per cent more likely survive breast cancer than those who abstained from drinking alcohol

Although drinking alcohol seems to make a big difference to women’s survival odds, the scientists pointed out that the overall change was small. This was because there were many other factors affecting the success of treatment including how early the illness was diagnosed, the woman’s age and the particular type of breast cancer. Experts commenting on the study also pointed out that alcohol was only beneficial once a woman had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

 Source: Daily mail UK 

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