A local oncologist said that spending January wine-free could reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.
Cookeville Regional Oncologist Dr. Penny Heinrich said alcohol and wine lead to higher estrogen levels in women, which then lead to an increased risk of breast cancer. Heinrich said women who drink alcohol and wine each day increase their breast cancer risk by seven percent. Heinrich said the impact of going a month without wine is dependent on the person’s health.
“Even stopping for a month may potentially, you know, have a little bit less of an impact on breast cancer risk, but I think they do need to have further data to show you know how long you would have to quit in order to see how that reduces the risk of breast cancer,” Heinrich said.
Heinrich said the goal of going a month without wine is so women can re-evaluate their long-term habits regarding breast cancer. Heinrich said even a single daily glass of wine can raise a woman’s risk.
“People used to think that certain types of alcohol posed a cancer risk, but newer research has shown that all types of alcohol actually raise breast cancer risk,” Heinrich said. “They did a recent study, and it showed that they looked at 70,000 people, and they found that there was no difference in breast cancer risk whether these people drank liquor, beer, white, or red wine.”
Heinrich said her office helps those who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer stop drinking wine.
“We do have that conversation about cutting down to potentially stopping completely,” Heinrich said. “And I think there are different avenues in the community that help in this regard.”
Heinrich said if a person has an increased risk of breast cancer in general due to family history, then they should have a conversation with their primary care physician about how wine can impact their risk for breast cancer.
Wine Free January is a movement nationally where people give up wine or alcohol to reset habits and improve health.