Alcohol Spikes Breast Cancer Danger

Alcohol in any form significantly increases a woman's risk of breast cancer, according to a major new study. Three or more drinks a day, whether wine, beer or spirits, is tantamount to smoking a pack of cigarettes, US researchers told a European scientific conference. One to two drinks a day increases the risk by 10%, which jumps to 30% for more than three drinks a day.

Until now, data on the relationship between the type of alcohol and potential risk has been sketchy. Breast cancer is the second deadliest cancer for women after lung cancer. Globally, 1.2 million people will be diagnosed with the disease this year and 500,000 will die from it. (More breast cancer stories.)