Moderate alcohol consumption during adult life, drinking patterns and breast cancer r

[News]

A well-done analysis by Chen WY et al, published in JAMA assesses the association of moderate alcohol consumption during adult life, drinking patterns, and breast cancer risk. The authors use prospectively collected data from the 105,986 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study followed up from 1980 until 2008 with an early adult alcohol assessment and 8 follow ups.

More... (http://www.news-medical.net/news/20111104/Moderate-alcohol-consumption-during-adult-life-drinking-patterns-and-breast-cancer-risk.aspx)

[norkdo]

alcohol intake increases estrogen levels and this means that women have a slightly lower risk for osteoporosis and a slightly higher risk for breast cancer. When we tell the public that current data suggest small to moderate amounts of alcohol protect against cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, and vascular dementia, we should also state that breast cancer risk in women is slightly increased."

Oh. Good. Near the end of the article it explains the mechanism. Hormone responsive breast cancer. Good news if you are hormone negative. You can drink!