The link between alcohol and cancer itself is not news. Way back in 1988, the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that alcohol consumption was a group one carcinogen – a direct cause of cancer in humans.
What has evolved over the past 26 years is evidence showing alcohol caused more cancers than first thought. Alcohol has now been conclusively shown to cause breast cancer in women, bowel cancer in men, and cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and oesophagus in everyone. There is increasing evidence that alcohol causes liver cancer in both women and men as well.
If you are living with, or have grown up with, someone whose drinking is causing problems for you – there is help! Al-Anon Family Groups offers confidential help and there are NO membership fees! We have been in Australia for more than 60 yrs. See our exhibitors’ table at the Melb Expo – Fri May 2nd. Our junior program, Alateen, offers help for teens living in a household where parents or siblings have a drinking problem. Free literature will be available at the Expo.
Cheers
Maree C
(Public Information Co-ordinator – Al-Anon Family Groups – Vic Southern Area)