When it comes to alcohol, the more a person drinks, the higher the risk of cancer.

The link between alcohol and cancer is well recognized. Cancer Care Ontario reports alcohol caused up to 3,000 cases of cancer in Ontario in 2010. In Grey Bruce, 19 per cent of residents over the age of 12 are regular heavy drinkers. While there is no "safe" amount of alcohol in relation to a person's risk for cancer, the less alcohol you drink, the more you reduce your risk.

"We want adults to rethink their drinking and gradually decrease the amount of alcohol that they drink to reduce their cancer risk and support healthy lifestyles," says Sarah Milne, Health Promoter with the Grey Bruce Health Unit. "This is especially important for those who have a strong family history of cancer."

To reduce risk, the Canadian Cancer Society recommends limiting alcohol to less than one drink a day for women and less than two drinks a day for men. Women are more vulnerable to the health effects of alcohol even when drinking small amounts. Alcohol increases the production of estrogen leading to a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Source - Health Unit