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Alcohol Found to Increase Rectal Cancer Risk

by Donna Myers
for About.com

Updated: April 30, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Sometimes it seems scientists are trying to suck all the fun out of life.

A study published in the journal Gut found that drinking beer and spirits (i.e., gin, vodka, and bourbon) doesn't seem to have an affect on colon cancer, but does seem to increase the risk of rectal cancer if you drink enough. How much is that exactly?

Drinking more than one beer a day or two glasses of spirits was found to more than double a person's risk of developing rectal cancer.

Related Articles: Source: Pedersen, A. and Johansen, C. "Relations Between Amount and Type of Alcohol and Colon and Rectal Cancer in a Danish Population Based Cohort Study." Gut 52 (2003): 861-867. 24 Aug. 2006 [http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/52/6/861].
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