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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Postmenopausal women may double their risk of endometrial cancer if they drink two or more alcoholic beverages each day.
In previous studies, alcohol consumption has been linked to higher levels of estrogen in postmenopausal women, a possible explanation for the association between endometrial cancer and alcohol found by researchers at the University of Southern California.
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Researchers followed 41,574 postmenopausal women living in Los Angeles and Hawaii for about eight years. Along with the overall doubled risk of endometrial cancer among frequent drinkers, researchers report lean women were more likely than heavier women to have an increased risk of cancer. Study authors conclude lean women may be more vulnerable to estrogen levels raised by alcohol than obese women, who already have higher estrogen levels.
According to the National Cancer Institute, endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system. It accounts for approximately six percent of all cancers in women.
SOURCE: International Journal of Cancer, published online Sept. 7, 2007
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
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