US EditionLifetime Alcohol Consumption Associated with Higher Risk of Colorectal Cancer
- On January 26, 2026, a study in CANCER linked consistent heavy lifetime drinking to a 91% higher colorectal cancer risk, tracking 1,679 cases among 88,092 US adults over 20 years.
- Researchers pointed to biological mechanisms including alcohol as a recognized carcinogen, prolonged drinking increasing colon damage, and highest risks among heavy drinkers at every adulthood stage.
- Their rectal cancer risk increased by 95%, and heavy drinkers averaging ≥14 drinks weekly faced a 25% higher colorectal cancer risk than those drinking one or less.
- Screening guidelines recommend starting at age 45, but fewer than 70% of eligible people get screened, and quitting alcohol may reduce cancer risk as former drinkers showed no increased colorectal cancer risk.
- Amid rising colorectal cancers, especially in younger people, researchers highlight limited data for some subgroups and call for more study to understand alcohol’s varied impact on the colon.
28 Articles
28 Articles
'Robust evidence' links lifetime of heavy drinking to near-double rectal cancer risk
A major American study tracking more than 88,000 adults has found that people who drink heavily throughout their lives could face nearly double the risk of developing colorectal cancer.The research, which followed participants over two decades, showed particularly strong links between sustained heavy alcohol consumption and rectal tumours.The data also suggests that giving up alcohol can make a genuine difference, with former moderate-to-heavy d…
The relationship between alcohol and colorectal cancer is clearer than previously thought. A new study reveals that high lifetime alcohol consumption significantly increases the risk of developing this type of cancer, especially rectal cancer. Alcohol and colorectal cancer: a proven risk An international study confirms that high alcohol consumption increases the risk of colorectal and rectal cancer, while stopping drinking may reduce it. A long-…
Lifetime alcohol consumption associated with higher risk of colorectal cancer
Studies have demonstrated a link between alcohol consumption and an elevated risk of colorectal cancer. New research now reveals that higher lifetime alcohol consumption is also associated with a higher risk,
MedPage Today
Anti-Aging, Acupuncture and Health NewsHeavy Drinking Linked to Higher Risk of Colorectal Cancer
(MedPage Today) -- Higher average lifetime alcohol intake was associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), especially rectal cancer, according to data from the prospective Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening...
According to data from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), 42,771 new cases of cancer of the colon and rectum appear every year, the malignant tumor of...
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