Alcohol: leading cause of 7 cancers

PSNews- Alcohol may cause cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, colorectal and liver to people as well as  breast cancer to women. The more people drink, the greater the risk of cancer they may face.

  • Ministry of Health proposes concrete regulations to better control the quality of homemade alcohol
  • Further investigation into wine with methanol poison in Hanoi
  • Methanol poisoning up in Hanoi
Alcohol is to blame for 7 common types of cancers. Photo for illustration
Alcohol is to blame for 7 common types of cancers. Photo for illustration

This information is provided by the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health - MOH) at the workshop on preventing harms of alcohol and cancer, organized by the Department of Preventive Medicine in collaboration with the Cancer Research Institute On April 19, in Hanoi.

A survey conducted by the MOH shows that 77.3% of men and 11% of women drink alcohol as their habit, said Dr. Truong Dinh Bac, Deputy Head of the Preventive Medicine Department. Of them, 44.2% of men and 1.2% of women drink a dangerous level amount of alcohol. Ethanol in alcohol is a carcinogen for humans.

Alcohol is one of the leading causes of non-communicable diseases, including cancer. The development of cancer usually occurs after a person starts drinking for 2 years and more, even after he or she stopped drinking.

It is estimated that Vietnam has 100,000 to 150,000 new cancer cases each year and about 75,000 deaths from cancer, according to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Huong, Deputy Head of the Cancer Research Institute. By 2020, Vietnam is expected to have nearly 200,000 new cases of cancer. The causes of cancer may vary, but a group of factors related to eating, drinking, inadequate diet and unsafe food.

According to Dr. Le Dinh Tung, at the Subject of Biology of the Hanoi Medical University, results of health surveys show that the rate of women drinking alcohol is on the rise. The more educated and the wealthier women are, the more likely they are to contract bad habits. The children of alcoholics have the possibility to become hard drinkers 3-4 times higher than non-alcoholic drinkers’ children.

The risk of alcohol-related cancers in Vietnam is significant, as Dr. Truong Dinh Bac said, and the alcohol consumption in Vietnam is currently the highest in Southeast Asia, behind only Japan and China in the region. Vietnam consumes 200 million liters and more than 3 billion liters of beer per year.

In particular, young people who start drinking before the age of 15 can have five times as many problems from alcohol as people starting drinking at 21years old. Youngsters starting drinking alcohol at early ages have four times more possibility of being alcohol addicts; six times more possibility of violence after drinking; six times more possibility of road accidents; and five times more of injury, than normal people.

The Ministry of Health recommends that in order to reduce the risk of cancer and other related illnesses, people should not drink alcohol, or if they drink, they should control the intake. Additionally, people should not drink alcohol while taking drugs reacting with alcohol or suffering the diseases to be worsened by alcohol. Pregnant or feeding women must not drink alcohol as this harms the fetus and the baby.

By Duy Tien

Other News

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Under the plan, all central and local media outlets are required to launch columns on the campaign, maintain regular coverage, and produce at least five to seven in-depth reports each month in key search areas. Media agencies will also be encouraged to gather and verify valuable information and develop high-quality products in both Vietnamese and foreign languages, including feature articles, documentaries, reports and short videos.

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed confidence that the establishment will serve as a strong spiritual anchor for Vietnamese people living in Japan while contributing to friendship and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

Cyberspace now runs through children’s learning, entertainment, and daily lives, but warned it is laced with dangerous content, online insults, threats, and seemingly harmless clicks that can trigger fraud, data breaches, and risks children who are not yet equipped to handle.

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

A scholar has stressed the need for Vietnam to make use of cooperation opportunities arising from the RoK’s foreign policy, particularly in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, digital transformation, and green energy, as well as chances in multilateral diplomacy.

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

Pham Van Hat is best known as the creator of the made-in-Vietnam “Seed Sowing Robot,” now exported to 15 countries, alongside dozens of practical inventions that have eased labour for thousands of farmers.

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Films, music, television programmes, e-books, video games, journalistic works, images and creative data can now be copied, edited and redistributed within minutes. While copyright violations were once linked mainly to pirated discs or counterfeit books, infringements have shifted online with faster speed, wider scale and greater anonymity.

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Consul General Nguyen Viet Kien stressed President Ho Chi Minh’s reputation and career transcended Vietnam’s borders to inspire liberation movements worldwide, and that his ideas on the right to self-determination, peace, and friendship among nations remain deeply relevant today.

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

A key target under the new plan is the establishment of five digital technology incubators, or Deeptech Hubs, at universities and research institutes with strong potential. The education ministry also plans to launch a training programme for 1,000 outstanding technology entrepreneurs and develop criteria for selecting and supporting startup ecosystems within educational institutions.

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

To accelerate the implementation of the the Ethnic Affairs Strategy by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, the Prime Minister requested ministries, agencies and local authorities to continue thoroughly carrying out the Party and State’s policies on ethnic affairs, enhancing the effectiveness of State management and strengthening oversight of policy implementation.

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

The team examined the APEC 2027 Convention Centre, where main conference activities are scheduled; Sun Serenia Hospital, designated to provide healthcare and emergency medical services for delegates; provincial road DT.975, which connects Phu Quoc International Airport to the convention centre; and the area surrounding Phu Quoc International Airport.