Is there a relationship between Alcohol and Prostate Cancer?
With the future of U.S. health care still very uncertain, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy calls for Congress to require health warning labels that inform consumers of the links between alcohol consumption and risks of cancer. Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer behind tobacco and obesity. There are already warning labels stating the risks for pregnancy and motor vehicle operation. The Former US Surgeon General is now urging Congress to include a third risk label, the risk of cancer.
There are seven types of cancers that have been clinically linked to excessive and unhealthy alcohol consumption. These include colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, liver cancer, mouth cancer, throat cancer, voice box cancer and breast cancer. Despite decades of mounting evidence to support this claim, many Americans are still widely unaware of the link between alcohol and certain cancers. The more alcohol you consume, the higher the chances of increasing your risk of cancer. The latest research has begun questioning if there is a link between alcohol and prostate cancer.
There is currently not enough evidence to fully determine if there is a link between alcohol and prostate cancer. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, there is currently no direct association between drinking alcohol and an increased risk of prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society has also echoed the same findings and does not list alcohol as a known risk for prostate cancer. However, there are conflicting findings about the relationship between the two. A recent article published in June 2019 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on Alcohol Intake and Risk of Lethal Prostate Cancer found that drinking alcohol might become a risk factor for prostate cancer.
What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men worldwide. Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer for men in the US. In fact, it is a very commonly diagnosed cancer in American men. The prostate is part of the male reproductive system that sits just below the bladder. Prostate cancer tends to grow very slowly. This makes the prognosis for treatment very positive especially if it is caught early and treated early.
Despite being a common type of cancer found in men, it is not often checked for enough by patients and sometimes, medical providers. This is because it can exist for years with few or sometimes no symptoms. Usually, if you don’t experience any type of serious symptoms, you tend not to look into it any further. This can also make it more dangerous because patients are unaware of what to look for and therefore are unable to prevent cancer development or growth.
Prostate cancer is generally a disease of older age and it is uncommon for a man to be diagnosed before the age of 60. Prostate cancer is also most commonly found in African American men and those who have a family history of the disease.
Alcohol and Cancer
According to the National Health Interview Survey, the distribution of alcohol consumption patterns includes 4.2% as heavy drinkers 47.1% of light to moderate drinkers, 12.2% of frequent drinkers, 25.7% of former drinkers and about 10.8% of those who have never drank alcohol. Alcohol is a globally used substance and is one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide.
The World Health Organization estimates that alcohol use resulted in 3 million deaths globally back in 2016. In a study on alcohol and cancer from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, research found that an estimated 3.5% of all cancer deaths in the US were linked to alcohol consumption. Some studies have found that even moderate use of alcohol can increase the risks of many different types of cancers. With heavy and long-term alcoholic drinkers, the risks were even greater. Alcohol is considered carcinogenic in humans and is one of the top ten risk factors contributing to global cancer rates.
In studies with no cancer correlation, an article from September 2018 on Alcohol and Cancer Risk by the National Cancer Institute found that ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer and uterus and bladder cancer yielded little to no evidence of association with alcohol use.
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Alcohol and Prostate Cancer
Is there a link between alcohol and prostate cancer? Unfortunately, there isn’t enough definite evidence to prove either way of any type of association between the two. Some studies have shown there may be risks of prostate cancer due to alcohol consumption and other studies show there may be a positive impact on prostate cancer from alcohol use.
Although the relationship between alcohol and prostate cancer is still inconclusive, some studies show how unhealthy alcohol consumption is linked to prostate cancer mortality. Findings have shown it can accelerate the growth of prostate tumors and significantly shorten the time of progression into metastatic cancer. Research from 2020 found that consuming liquor or high amounts of red wine could increase the risk of prostate cancer in men. A Harvard Alumni Health study also found a positive correlation between moderate liquor consumption and prostate cancer. It is proven that excessive alcohol use can harm and impact a person’s overall health, which can then lead to an increased risk of cancers such as prostate cancer.
In another study, alcohol seemed to increase the risk of prostate cancer among men who are already prescribed medications to treat their enlarged prostate. The drugs finasteride and dutasteride are prescribed to help lower the risk of prostate cancer by blocking hormones that cause the prostate to enlarge. When consuming alcohol while taking this medication, reduces the effectiveness of the drug.
On the other hand, some research has found that alcohol could actually be beneficial for managing or mitigating prostate cancer specifically. A study found that in men, moderate consumption of red wine helped to slow the progression of the disease in those who have been previously diagnosed with the cancer. For studies showing positive correlations between alcohol and prostate cancer, the type of alcohol being consumed seems to play an important role.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer that can mimic that of Alcohol Abuse
Oftentimes, symptoms of prostate cancer do not develop until the later stages of the disease. It can also be difficult to distinguish between what may be symptoms of cancer and what may be symptoms of alcohol abuse because they often overlap. This can mask the symptoms of the cancer, make them worse and delay or hinder appropriate treatment.
These overlapping symptoms include:
- Frequent urination – increased nighttime urination and a weak urine flow
- Erectile dysfunction
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Swelling of the legs or feet (Edema)
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Shoulder, hip or thigh pain
- Bone pain
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Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
When it comes to the relationship between prostate cancer and alcohol, there have been mixed results in which some found positive correlations, some found negative correlations and some found no correlations. There is not enough research to prove definite conclusions and further investigations and research will be needed.
In general, high alcohol consumption is known to increase the risk of breast cancer and several other types of digestive system cancer. This does make it reasonable to assume that it can also increase the risk of prostate cancer. Excessive drinking can also lead to alcohol tolerance, dependence and addiction. Behavioral treatment programs such as Hotel California by the Sea provide treatment for alcohol abuse.
We offer treatment in detox, residential, PHP and IOP. We utilize evidence-proven methods such as CBT, DBT and EMDR therapy to help treat substance and alcohol addiction. Hotel California by the Sea is committed to helping our client reach their goals of sobriety and overcome their addiction.
References:
https://www.npr.org/2025/01/03/nx-s1-5245794/alcohol-cancer-risk-surgeon-general
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8945566
https://www.compassoncology.com/blog/alcohol-and-prostate-cancer
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9965886
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323894
https://www.baptisthealth.com/blog/cancer-care/alcohol-consumption-and-prostate-cancer
https://www.healthline.com/health/prostate-cancer/alcohol-and-prostate-cancer