04/04/2026
Approximately five years, three months, and eighteen days ago, I chose to become alcohol-free. Since then, I’ve learned a great deal about the effects alcohol can have on our health—some of which are not widely talked about. One of the most important is the link between alcohol and breast cancer. Research shows that drinking alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer by roughly 30% compared to non-drinkers.
Last fall, I went in for my annual mammogram. A week later, I was called back for additional imaging, that included a follow-up mammogram and ultrasound. During that visit, they discovered a small mass in my left breast. A biopsy was recommended to determine whether it was cancerous. Thankfully, the results came back benign. However, I was advised to return in six months for another follow-up. At that appointment, the imaging showed that the mass had doubled in size. Although it had previously tested benign, my care team recommended a lumpectomy to remove it, as they could not be completely certain it wouldn’t become cancerous. The results are in and the biopsy from the lumpectomy was benign. Praise the Lord!
I don’t have a family history of breast cancer, and I may never know whether alcohol played a role in this experience. But it has deepened my awareness of the potential risks—and how different the outcome could have been had I continued drinking.
What we do know is this: the more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of developing breast cancer. Alcohol can increase estrogen and other hormone levels associated with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. For those taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), that risk may be even higher.
Alcohol is also linked to several other types of cancer, and current guidance suggests that no level of alcohol consumption is completely risk-free. Reducing or eliminating alcohol can have meaningful benefits for long-term health.
