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    Information Is your drinking putting you at risk of cancer?

    Research has shown that alcohol consumption is one of a number of factors that contribute to the risk for developing certain types of cancer, including cancers of the upper digestive tract, as well as liver, breast, colorectal, and kidney cancer.

    Cancer risk associated with the consumption of alcohol is related to patterns of drinking, particularly heavy drinking over extended periods of time.

    Not all heavy drinkers get cancer as multiple risk factors are involved in the development of cancers including genetics and family history of cancer, age, environmental factors, and behavioural variables, as well as social determinants of health.

    If you do choose to drink, it is advisable to drink at or below National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol* – the more you cut down, the more you reduce your risk of cancer.

    Head, throat and neck cancer
    When you smoke cigarettes and drink heavy amounts of alcohol, you significantly increase your risk of cancer – especially cancers of the mouth and throat.

    Liver cancer
    Regularly drinking to excess may result in a fatty liver which can adversely affect your liver function.  Continued heavy or excessive drinking may result in the liver becoming inflamed causing alcoholic hepatitis or permanent liver scarring (cirrhosis) and subsequent liver cancer.

    Breast cancer
    Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women. Studies indicate a relationship between alcohol consumption and developing breast cancer.  Of course, drinking alcohol does not mean you will automatically get breast cancer, but it does mean your risk of developing it will be increased.  How much you drink over your lifetime is what increases the risk, therefore you should stick to Australian national government drinking guidelines.

    Colon cancer
    Excessive drinking can increase the risk of developing colon cancer.

    For more information about the effects of alcohol on your body, check out our interactive body health tool.

    *Through the evidence-based Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol, the NHMRC provide Australians with evidence-based advice on the health effects of drinking alcohol, helping people to make informed decisions about how much alcohol they drink, if they choose to drink.  Read about the guidelines here.

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    Pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding?

    Give your baby the best possible start and avoid the risks of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should not drink alcohol. If you are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for your baby.

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    Indigenous education resources and partnerships

    Indigenous education around alcohol is an important focus for DrinkWise.  DrinkWise provides financial and in-kind support for a number of different programs and initiatives, utilising a tailored broadcast and targeted approach.

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    DrinkWise videos for education programs

    DrinkWise has created a series of videos for school and community programs, to educate and build individual capacity to make informed decisions about alcohol.

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    You Got This – supporting 2020 school leavers

    The second phase of You Got This features a series of six video interviews offering practical tips and experiences that can help school-leavers remain confident and resilient as they embark on life after school.

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