This month, the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory outlining the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. The advisory noted that while the scientific evidence for this connection has been growing over the past four decades, fewer than half of Americans recognize alcohol as a risk factor for cancer. It also recommends including a health warning label on alcohol-containing beverages.
University of Minnesota School of Public Health Professor Silvia Balbo’s research is cited in the advisory, and she is available to provide expert comment on the connections between alcohol and cancer risk.
Silvia Balbo
“The U.S. government implemented warning labels about the effects of alcohol on reducing the ability to operate machines and on birth defects in 1988. These labels need to be updated to include the warning for cancer risk associated with alcohol consumption.”
“Researchers focused on understanding the connections between alcohol consumption and elevated risk of cancer for decades. Understanding how alcohol interacts with our body at a molecular level can help better identify people who may be at higher risk for cancer so we can implement strategies to prevent cancer from happening in the first place.”
“There are steps people can take immediately to reduce their cancer risk. Drinking alcohol in moderation is key. Reducing frequency of drinking, consuming alcohol with food and considering alcohol-free alternatives are good options to reduce the effects of alcohol consumption.”
Silvia Balbo is a professor in the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and a member of the Masonic Cancer Center. Her research focuses on how chemical exposures from lifestyle and environmental factors interact with DNA to cause diseases including cancer.
-30-
About the School of Public Health
The University of Minnesota School of Public Health improves the health and wellbeing of populations and communities around the world by bringing innovative research, learning, and concrete actions to today’s biggest health challenges. We prepare some of the most influential leaders in the field, and partner with health departments, communities, and policymakers to advance health equity for all. Learn more at sph.umn.edu.
About the Masonic Cancer Center
The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, is the Twin Cities’ only Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated ‘Outstanding’ by the National Cancer Institute. As Minnesota’s Cancer Center, we have served the entire state for more than 30 years. Our researchers, educators, and care providers work to discover the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer and cancer-related diseases as well as provide whole-of-life care and resources for survivorship. Learn more at cancer.umn.edu.
