More than 50 percent of cancer survivors report using alcohol, and 21 percent are binge-drinkers, according to a study published in Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Researchers used data from the National Health Interview Survey from 2000 to 2017 to examine alcohol drinking patterns and behaviors among 34,080 U.S. adults who reported a cancer diagnosis.
Of the adults with cancer, 56.5 percent reported being current alcohol drinkers, including 34.9 percent who drank more than moderate limits (more than one drink per day for women and more than two drinks per day for men) and 21 percent said they engaged in binge drinking (five or more drinks during at least one day in the last year).
Being younger and having a history of smoking was linked with higher odds of drinking, and getting diagnosed with melanoma and cervical, head and neck, and testicular cancers were associated with higher likelihood of binge-drinking.