Frank Rondel
Long-term and consistent alcohol use has been associated with a markedly increased risk of colorectal cancer, particularly rectal cancer, according to a new study tracking more than 88,000 adults over nearly a decade, reports customreceipt.com via ABC News. Researchers reported that individuals who consumed alcohol heavily throughout their lives faced up to a 91% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer compared with those who drank minimally, while quitting or reducing alcohol intake appeared to lower the likelihood of precancerous tissue development.
The study, published in the journal Cancer, followed adults with no prior cancer diagnoses, recording their alcohol use from early adulthood and monitoring cancer outcomes over time. Participants consuming over 14 drinks weekly exhibited a 25% higher probability of developing colorectal cancer compared to those drinking one drink or less per week, with rectal cancer risk nearly doubling. Experts highlight that the lower colon is more susceptible to prolonged exposure to alcohol-related damage, making early detection critical.
Dr. Lynn M. O’Connor, section chief of colon and rectal surgery at Mercy Medical Center and St. Joseph Hospital in New York, explained that “the longer someone drinks, the longer their colon and rectum are exposed to damage and impaired repair, both major mechanisms of cancer.” Colorectal cancers have been rising, particularly among younger adults, raising concern among gastroenterology specialists. Dr. Fola May, GI specialist and associate director at UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity, noted that understanding alcohol’s impact on the lower colon could inform screening and prevention efforts.
The study emphasized that consistent heavy drinking at all stages of adulthood presented the highest risk, while those who drank heavily in certain periods but reduced intake later showed lower risk levels. Adenomas—polyps that may become cancerous—were less strongly linked to alcohol, but individuals who quit drinking had a noticeably reduced chance of developing nonadvanced adenomas. Dr. Jeffrey Farma, a colorectal cancer specialist, stated that “these are modifiable risks. The choices people make over time matter, and the body can respond when those risks are reduced.”
Colorectal cancer screening is advised for all adults starting at age 45 by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. Screening options include annual stool tests, CT colonography every five years, or colonoscopies every ten years. Specialists emphasize that individuals with prolonged heavy drinking histories should seek early evaluation if symptoms such as rectal bleeding or persistent bowel changes appear, even in their 30s. Early detection remains a key strategy in reducing colorectal cancer morbidity and mortality.
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