Do you want a Cure for Alcohol and Cancer?

Why do we hear so much written and spoken about finding a cure for alcohol and cancer?  Without a doubt, cancer is a curse on modern society.  It can strike anyone at any level of society, and it can strike at any time.  Obviously, this is a very worrying thought for many people, and a diagnosis of the dreaded disease is much feared.

Yes – we all want a cure for cancer!

Because so many of us live in fear of getting cancer, there is a huge emphasis on searching for a cure for cancer.  There are medical research institutions around the world competing to find the magic bullet.  Or be the first to find a secret vaccine.  Or even find some sort of genetic switch to disable the onset of cancer.

Medical research costs a lot of money

There are billions of dollars of public money spent in the funding of medical research facilities to carry out these studies.  Public research facilities have been established around the world to take up this crusade.  There are universities that are held in high regard for their ground breaking research into the spread of cancer.  And there are privately funded institutions that are competing to be the first to make the breakthrough.

We hear about breakthroughs all the time!

It seems that it must be a very exciting time for researchers who are close to making the breakthrough.  We regularly hear about exciting research outcomes that give scientists a clue that they must be getting closer.  Newspapers love to boast about success when a research team manages to isolate a particular genetic clue.  We eagerly await news that someone will be able to crack the elusive code.

Some people have been able to beat cancer

The good news is that for many cancer sufferers, the research has been able to identify methods to reduce the effects of cancer and to slow down the spread of the disease.  There are many success stories whereby people have been able to beat the cancer, and to go on and lead happy and productive lives.

But cancer is still a dark shadow on the horizon

Unfortunately, many people live in fear of alcohol and cancer.  For example, smoking is a known contributor to contracting many forms of cancer.  Yet many people still smoke.  This is despite a massive shift in public perception about smoking.  Smoking is no longer seen as acceptable around public spaces, and in particular near children.  The plain packaging legislation is becoming more common in many countries around the world, and it is interesting to know whether this affects people’s perception about smoking.  And yet, people still smoke.

But even if you don’t smoke, there are many other commonly accepted influences that can cause cancer.

Does alcohol cause cancer?

Many people seem to love drinking alcohol.  But a lot of people used to enjoy smoking also!  And we now know what that does.  But most people do not seem to be aware of the link between alcohol and cancer.  It is a fact – the NIAAA have listed one of the by products of alcohol as a grade 1 carcinogen.  It is called acetaldehyde, and it is produced by the liver every time we drink alcohol.  Here is an excellent article about the link between alcohol and cancer – Avoid Alcohol and you can Avoid Cancer.

So why are we allowed to buy and drink alcohol?

I am not really sure.  But what I have noticed is that the alcohol drinking guidelines have changed a lot recently.  From several drinks, the guidelines have been cut back to no more than 1 or 2 drinks.  The reason for this is because of acetaldehyde.  Every drink of alcohol, you are at risk of producing carcinogenic chemicals in your own body.

Can you imagine cancer labels on bottles of alcohol?

Just like plain label packaging on cigarette packets, why not put warnings and pictures of cancer on bottles of alcohol?  I understand that people wouldn’t like to see pictures of cancerous livers on their expensive champagne, but hey, it is no secret.  Alcohol causes cancer.  But don’t worry, after a drink or two nobody would care anyway.  And after a bottle or two, nobody could read it either!

Cancer caused by alcohol is not nice

Maybe I am being a little too controversial for most people.  But why do we pretend it is not true?  Just because most people are unaware, or unwilling to believe, doesn’t mean it is not true!  Many people mistakenly think that alcohol is somehow good for their health, but it has now been proven that this is not true. Alcohol and cancer go hand in hand.

Cancer is not nice

I understand that cancer is a frightening thought for many people.  In fact, the thought that I was putting myself at risk from drinking was fundamental in helping me quit drinking.  So I can’t help wondering that if more people understood the risks involved with drinking alcohol every day, would more people want to quit? Will drinking alcohol become the new smoking, and will there be a general public awareness of the dangers?

How do we spread the message about alcohol and cancer?

There is so much money spent on searching for a cure for cancer.  If more money was spent on educating people of the cancer risk associated with alcohol, perhaps there would be less cancer!  The money for cancer research could be spent on those other types of cancer that aren’t caused by smoking and drinking.  That seems like a pretty worthy cause, to me.

Still want a Cure for Cancer?

Well here is a revolutionary thought – stop drinking alcohol and give up smoking!