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Alcohol linked to bone loss, risk of recurrence?

Page last modified on: October 7, 2008

Question from Duncan: When you mention just one alcoholic drink per day, do you say that because of potential bone loss, or are you also referring to research regarding the relationship of alcohol to recurrence?: Answer —Julie Gralow, M.D.: There's a clear link between increased alcohol consumption and increased risk for developing breast cancer. There is no question that there is an increased risk of breast cancer if one consumes the equivalent of about two drinks per night.

It's obviously a continuum, where the more alcohol, the more risk. Probably one drink per night has a little bit of risk, although a couple of glasses of wine a week can have benefits. We encourage low alcohol intake and not high intake because of the association with developing breast cancer and not so much because of the possibility of bone loss.

On Wednesday, January 18, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Physical Activity and Breast Cancer. Miriam Nelson, Ph.D., Julie Gralow, M.D., and moderator Judith Sachs answered your questions about the many issues related to physical activity and breast cancer.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Miriam Nelson, Ph.D. is the author of the international best-sellers Strong Women Stay Young; Strong Women Stay Slim;Strong Women, Strong Bones; and other titles. She is Director of the John Hancock Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition and Associate Professor of Nutrition at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.

Julie Gralow, M.D. is associate professor of medical oncology specializing in breast cancer at the University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and director of breast medical oncology at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

Judith Sachs is a health educator, writer, speaker, and former member of the Breastcancer.org editorial team.