It's been dubbed the 'silent killer' and will strike one in eight men in their lifetimes. Alcohol consumption is linked to a modest but significant increase in prostate cancer, particularly at higher levels of drinking. Large scale population studies and reviews provide a marker to the risk in relation to the amount of alcohol consumed. Even very low-volume drinking (e.g., just one drink every 10 days) can slightly tip the scale compared to lifetime abstainers., while heavy drinking significantly escalates the risk of developing high-grade, aggressive prostate cancer.
With light to moderate drinkers who consume lower amounts (around 1 drink per day or less) there is an 8% to 18% higher risk of developing prostate cancer compared to lifetime abstainers. Men who drink heavily (typically defined as more than 4 to 5 drinks per day, or 15+ drinks a week) increase their risk by 21% to 32%. Very heavy drinking significantly escalates the cancer risk.
Heavy or binge drinking during youth and adulthood (from mid-teens to age 50) also significantly elevates the long-term risk of developing aggressive, advanced forms of the disease later in life.
