I'm not sure I would dismiss this report quite so quickly as some of you, though I agree that the press reporting has been superficial. Cancer Research UK is one of the major cancer research organisations and aren't given to publishing scare stories. From what I've read, they aren't saying that women shouldn't drink at all, but reminding us that excessive drinking (more than 14 units a week for women) increases the risk of developing bc (currently a life-time risk of at least 1 in 9) and also that the larger glasses of wine which are served in many pubs and clubs actually contain far more than the 125ml which consitutes one unit. The increasing strength of modern wines is also a problem, as the units per week recommendations were devised when wines weren't as strong. Stronger wine in bigger glasses makes it very easy to drink more than is perhaps healthy for us without realising it. Another worry is the effect of binge drinking, since it appears that it is more damaging to drink a largish number of units very close together (say at the weekend) than to spread them out over the week.
Some of the main risk factors for developing bc - above all getting older - are things we can't do anything about, Trying to keep our weight at a healthy level, not drinking more than is considered healthy, etc, are more within our control. I'm post-menopausal, have had bc twice in the last 9 years, am considerably overweight and drink perhaps 4 small glasses of wine a week. I can't do anything about my age unfortunately, but I am working hard to lose weight and I will go on having the odd glass of red and enjoying it. That said, I support CRUK for warning women to be sensible about their drinking and think they would have been wrong not to do so.
Kathy (about to duck....)
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