Latest news with #CancerPreventionActionWeek
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Study reveals best way to communicate link between alcohol and breast cancer
A new study has revealed the best way to communicate the link between alcohol and breast cancer. The research, undertaken by Oxford Brookes University which has a campus in Swindon, and funded by the charity Prevent Breast Cancer, focused on women aged 40 to 65 in the UK. It found that many women in this group were unaware of the connection between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. Read more: 250-year-old Wiltshire estate launches summer adventure series The study, titled 'Rethinking the message on alcohol and breast cancer with UK women: a Delphi study', was published in the journal Health Promotion International. It involved a three-stage process, which began with a survey of 260 women, followed by seven online focus groups and a collaborative workshop. The study's lead author, Dr Emma Davies, said: "We often think of alcohol as causing liver disease, but there's plenty of research showing that drinking alcohol can lead to seven types of cancer, including breast cancer. "Evidence shows that people who are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer are more supportive of stronger and more effective alcohol policy. "This means that raising awareness isn't just about individual behaviour change, it is about changing how we think about alcohol at all levels of society." The study found that several factors, including cultural norms, mistrust of official messaging, psychological defence mechanisms, and stigma, reduced the effectiveness of health warnings. Fear-based messaging was also found to be counterproductive, as it often led to denial rather than proactive change. Dr Davies said: "It's clear that fear, blame and shame don't work when it comes to raising awareness of the risks associated with drinking alcohol. "Cutting back on alcohol can help to reduce the chance of getting cancer, but can also give us plenty of other benefits, such as better sleep and improved mood." The study concluded that narrative-based framing, using personal stories from peers who have experienced breast cancer, was more effective than stark statistics or scare tactics. Messages were most accepted when framed positively, highlighting how reducing drinking can empower women and protect their health, rather than through guilt or blame. Dr Davies added: "Importantly, we need a clear and evidence-based alcohol policy to reduce risks across the population. Read more: WHSmith shops to be renamed as firm sells up at cut price "We need to understand why people drink and what the emotional and cultural barriers are to giving up or cutting down. "We hope our study will equip policymakers, charities, clinicians, and health communicators with an evidence-based roadmap to reshape prevention campaigns and reduce alcohol-related harms, including breast cancer and other cancer cases." For more information and advice on alcohol and cancer, visit the World Cancer Research Fund's Cancer Prevention Action Week page.
STV News
23-06-2025
- Health
- STV News
Only one in six Scots feel comfortable talking about alcohol, survey finds
Only one in six (17%) adults in Scotland feel comfortable talking about their relationship with alcohol, according to new research. A poll carried out by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) of 2,000 UK adults shows it is one of the least talked-about topics, less than money (32%) or sex (19%). The survey to mark Cancer Prevention Action Week found many people still do not understand the health risks of drinking alcohol. Across the UK, one in four adults say alcohol has no health risks. In Scotland, this dropped to one in six. Meanwhile, only one in 14 UK adults mentioned cancer as a risk when asked about alcohol. Laura Mahon, deputy chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: 'Every day in Scotland three people are diagnosed with an alcohol-related cancer, yet the alcohol industry continues to keep the public in the dark about the health risks of their products by choosing not to provide us with the clear information we need to make informed choices. 'The Scottish Government must empower consumers in Scotland by introducing mandatory health warning labels on alcohol products. This should form part of a refreshed and robust alcohol strategy focused on strong preventative measures to reduce alcohol harm.' Since Scotland introduced Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) in 2018, alcohol deaths have dropped by 13.4%, and overall drinking fell by 3%. But the Covid pandemic caused a rise in risky drinking and more alcohol-related deaths. iStock Minimum unit pricing was introduced in Scotland in 2018 World Cancer Research Fund CEO Rachael Gormley said: 'Alcohol is pervasive in our lives, from celebrations to after-work drinks and social gatherings. But do we truly understand the risks involved? 'Our findings show that most people are unaware that any amount of alcohol elevates the risk of seven types of cancer. 'It's essential that we engage in more discussions about alcohol and cancer, empowering individuals to make informed health choices.' With Scottish elections coming up, WCRF urges politicians to build on the success of MUP. They want a new National Alcohol Strategy that focuses on prevention and includes a fresh Cancer Action Plan. World Cancer Research Fund executive director of research and policy, Dr Panagiota Mitrou, said: 'While a coordinated approach across the UK would undeniably be most effective in tackling alcohol harm across the country, we urge the next Scottish government to make full use of their devolved powers which will allow them to make progress in key areas such as mandatory health warning labels and marketing restrictions. 'We also urge the UK government to work with the devolved administrations to take bold and collective action to reduce consumption. 'Crucially, the policies set out in a revised alcohol strategy must be developed in conjunction with a new plan for cancer, given that the Scottish government's current Cancer Action Plan expires in 2026. 'Ultimately, both renewed strategies must place prevention at their core.' Breast cancer survivor Nikki Bednall said: 'I always thought drinking a few times a week was fine. I never knew it could raise my cancer risk. 'If I'd known earlier, I might have made different choices. Though hindsight is easy, my perspective has changed with the knowledge that came after my diagnosis. 'For example, I now drink very little alcohol to stack the odds in my favour as much as possible. Now, my motto is: 'Look after your body like you have nowhere else to live because the reality is you don't.' Health Secretary Neil Gray said: 'The Scottish Government is working to reduce alcohol-related harm and deaths. Our world-leading Minimum Unit Pricing policy and the decision to uprate the unit price to 65 pence per unit is a key part of our approach to tackling alcohol harm. 'We want every person experiencing harm from alcohol use to be able access the support they need. That is why we have allocated £112m to local Alcohol and Drug Partnerships for treatment and support services. 'The forthcoming UK Clinical Guidelines for Alcohol Treatment are anticipated to further support the improvement of alcohol treatment in Scotland. In addition, the recently published Population Health Framework sets out a 10-year plan for population health, including addressing the harms caused by alcohol.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Better alcohol regulation will save lives and money
You are right to argue that rising alcohol harm must be addressed in the government's 10-year health plan (The Guardian view on alcohol and public health: the drinks industry must not control the narrative, 1 June). If ministers are 'staking their reputation on economic growth', they need to deal head-on with one of the biggest drivers of premature death and lost productivity, while ignoring spurious claims made by alcohol companies whose profits have for too long trumped public health. Alcohol harm costs England at least £27bn a year – almost double what the Treasury collects in alcohol duty. These harms aren't incidental to the alcohol market; they are intrinsic to it. While the industry promotes 'moderate drinking', evidence shows that its profits and growth depend on the heaviest drinkers. It's no coincidence that Diageo's CEO recently described moderation as the industry's 'biggest disrupter'. Policies that reduce alcohol consumption are consistently shown to be sound investments, recommended by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Bank and the World Health Organization. In Scotland, the introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP) led to a 13% drop in alcohol-specific deaths and a 4% fall in hospital admissions. If adopted in England, MUP could reduce premature mortality while saving the NHS millions and help create a healthier workforce. England urgently needs a national alcohol strategy. Bold, evidence-based measures like MUP must be at its core, with commercial vested-interest groups kept at the Katherine SeveriChief executive, Institute of Alcohol Studies • Your editorial reflects the serious concerns that we at World Cancer Research Fund and many other organisations have around the ineffectiveness of England's alcohol regulation. The evidence shows that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to cancer risk. And there are around 17,000 alcohol-related cancer cases in the UK every year, as well as 200 other associated health conditions caused by alcohol. In our Cancer Prevention Action Week (23-29 June), we will showcase polling that highlights the chasm between public perception about alcohol and cancer risks. We want the public to have correct health information at their disposal so they can understand their cancer risks and make informed choices. Now is the time for direct action. The UK government urgently needs to join the dots on regulation around alcohol marketing and labelling. We urge members of the public to do their part and sign our petition to advocate with us for better regulation in England. Dr Giota Mitrou Executive director of research and policy, World Cancer Research Fund • Nearly half of UK adults now drink alcohol-free products, and our research shows that 68% of them use these drinks to cut down on alcohol. But despite this momentum, outdated labelling rules are holding people back. For over a decade, governments have delayed a straightforward change: allowing drinks at or below 0.5% ABV to be labelled 'alcohol-free'. This is already the international standard and reflects the reality – drinks at this level contain no more alcohol than a ripe banana, sourdough bread or even some soft drinks. Yet UK producers are still forced to use the term 'low alcohol' for these drinks, confusing consumers and deterring many from trying WilloughbyCo-founder, Club Soda
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cancer prevention starts in early childhood
(WGHP) — The American Cancer Society expects doctors to diagnose more than two million new cases of cancer in the next 12 months. That's about 5,600 new cases every day, and that's just in the United States alone. This is Cancer Prevention Action Week (Feb. 17-23). It's devoted to helping people make small changes in their daily lives to help prevent cancer later on. The earlier you start, the more successful you'll be, so in Mommy Matters, five ways to start cancer prevention with your children. Don't smoke, vape, or use tobacco products. If you smoke, quit. Explain to your children why it's a bad habit. We generally associate smoking with lung cancer, but it's also linked to mouth and throat cancer, bladder cancer and pancreatic cancer. Protect yourself from the sun. Use sunscreen, stay in the shade, limit time in the sun, and avoid tanning beds. Statistics from the CDC show even a few sunburns in childhood can increase your risk of skin cancer as an adult. Be physically active and control your weight. Overweight children usually grow up to be overweight adults. Studies show people at a healthy weight tend to have a lower risk of developing breast, liver, colon, kidney and pancreatic cancer. Eat healthy foods and avoid alcohol use. Avoid processed foods. Instead, doctors say you should focus on fruits and vegetables and lean meats. Drink alcohol only in moderation. Get the HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines. Hepatitis B is linked to liver cancer. HPV can cause cervical and other genital cancers. It can also lead to cancer in the head and neck. The CDC says the HPV vaccine is safe for children starting at nine years old. One more thing we should all do is get regular medical exams. If you get a yearly checkup, doctors will be more likely to find any cancers early, and that will increase your chance for successful treatment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
