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Test Estimated number of breast cancers from alcohol use in the US last year*:

0

Test Estimated number of breast cancers from alcohol use in the US last year*:

0

* Between 4-10% of breast cancer cases each year are thought to be due to alcohol use (we got this estimate from this paper). We used the middle of that range—7%—and multiplied it by 276,480, the estimated number of new breast cancer cases in 2020 (we got this estimate here). That equals 19,354.

How much is too much?

Well, the more you drink, the more likely it is you’ll develop breast cancer. Seven drinks a week — doesn’t matter if it’s wine, beer, shots, or mixed drinks — increases your risk by 14%. Fourteen drinks increases it by 28%.

So what's

YOUR

increased risk?

Hover over the numbers to see how your drinking habits affect your increased risk of breast cancer. Find out how drinking more or less each week can change that risk.

How much is too much?

Well, the more you drink, the more likely it is you’ll develop breast cancer. Seven drinks a week — doesn’t matter if it’s wine, beer, shots, or mixed drinks — increases your risk by 14%. Fourteen drinks increases it by 28%.

So what's

YOUR

increased risk?

Hover over the numbers to see how your drinking habits affect your increased risk of breast cancer. Find out how drinking more or less each week can change that risk.

1 drink a week

2%

3 drinks a week

6%

5 drinks a week

10%

7 drinks a week

14%

14 drinks a week

28%

1 drink a week

2%

3 drinks a week

6%

5 drinks a week

10%

7 drinks a week

14%

14 drinks a week

28%

1 drink a week

2%

3 drinks a week

6%

5 drinks a week

10%

7 drinks a week

14%

14 drinks a week

28%

But what does “risk” really mean? Risk is confusing. It can be hard to understand how likely it is that a particular thing might happen to you. So let’s play a little game of…

"What are the Odds?

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Guess which one is more likely.

FlipCardIcons_rolleecoaster-07

Losing your life on a rollercoaster?

Nope! You’re more likely to just lose your lunch. Only a 1 in 300 million chance.

or

FlipCardIcons_palm-12

Getting a deadly blow from a falling coconut?

Yep! You have about a 1 in 270 million chance of death by coconut. Enjoy your tropical vacation!

FlipCardIcons_cow-11

Death by cow?

Nope! Your odds of getting murdered by a cow are only 1 in 164 million. Mooove along.

or

FlipCardIcons_vendingmachine-02

A fatal encounter with a vending machine?

Yep! You have a 1 in 112 million chance of dying in a vending machine-related accident — probably worth the risk for that bag of chips, though.

FlipCardIcons_Bear-01

Getting attacked by a bear?

Yep! You have a 1 in 2.1 million chance that your encounter with a bear will be… unbearable.

or

FlipCardIcons_murderhornet-09

Getting stung to death by murder hornets?

Nope! You only have a 1 in 2.5 million chance that murder hornets will do you in. And that’s only if you live in Japan. For now.

Getting pulverized by an asteroid?

Nope! You only have a 1 in 1,600,000 chance of the sky falling, Chicken Little.

or

Falling off a cruise ship?

Yep! You have a 1 in 850,000 chance of falling overboard. Bon Voyage!

Getting injured by a toilet?

Yep! You have a 1 in 10,000 chance of a toilet-related injury. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

or

FlipCardIcons_Lightning-16

Being struck by lightning?

Nope! You only have a 1 in 15,300 chance of being struck by lightning. Don’t forget your key and kite!

FlipCardIcons_lefthand-04

Being born left-handed?

Nope! You only have a 1 in 10 chance of being a lefty (and struggling with zippers, and scissors, and can openers…).

or

Getting breast cancer?

Yes. 1 out of every 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Alcohol increases your risk.

But what does “risk” really mean? Risk is confusing. It can be hard to understand how likely it is that a particular thing might happen to you. So let’s play a little game of…

“What are the Odds?”

Guess which one is more likely.

scroll down

FlipCardIcons_rolleecoaster-07

Losing your life on a rollercoaster?

Nope! You’re more likely to just lose your lunch. Only a 1 in 300 million chance.

or

FlipCardIcons_palm-12

Getting a deadly blow from a falling coconut?

Yep! You have about a 1 in 270 million chance of death by coconut. Enjoy your tropical vacation!

FlipCardIcons_cow-11

Death by Cow?

Nope! Your odds of getting murdered by a cow are only 1 in 164 million. Mooove along.

or

FlipCardIcons_vendingmachine-02

A fatal encounter with a vending machine?

Yep! You have a 1 in 112 million chance of dying in a vending machine-related accident — probably worth the risk for that bag of chips, though.

FlipCardIcons_Bear-01

Getting attacked by a bear?

Yep! You have a 1 in 2.1 million chance that your encounter with a bear will be… unbearable.

or

FlipCardIcons_murderhornet-09

Getting stung to death by murder hornets?

Nope! You only have a 1 in 2.5 million chance that murder hornets will do you in. And that’s only if you live in Japan. For now.

Getting pulverized by an asteroid?

Nope! You only have a 1 in 1,600,000 chance of the sky falling, Chicken Little.

or

Falling off a cruise ship?

Yep! You have a 1 in 850,000 chance of falling overboard. Bon Voyage!

Getting injured by a toilet?

Yep! You have a 1 in 10,000 chance of a toilet-related injury. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

or

FlipCardIcons_Lightning-16

Being struck by lightning?

Nope! You only have a 1 in 15,300 chance of being struck by lightning. Don’t forget your key and kite!

FlipCardIcons_lefthand-04

Being born left-handed?

Nope! You only have a 1 in 10 chance of being a lefty (and struggling with zippers, and scissors, and can openers…).

or

Getting breast cancer?

Yes. 1 out of every 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Alcohol increases your risk.

But what does “risk” really mean? Risk is confusing. It can be hard to understand how likely it is that a particular thing might happen to you. So let’s play a little game of…

“What are the Odds?”

Guess which one is more likely.

scroll down

FlipCardIcons_rolleecoaster-07

Losing your life on a rollercoaster?

Nope! You’re more likely to just lose your lunch. Only a 1 in 300 million chance.

or

FlipCardIcons_palm-12

Getting a deadly blow from a falling coconut?

Yep! You have about a 1 in 270 million chance of death by coconut. Enjoy your tropical vacation!

FlipCardIcons_cow-11

Death by cow?

Nope! Your odds of getting murdered by a cow are only 1 in 164 million. Mooove along.

or

FlipCardIcons_vendingmachine-02

A fatal encounter with a vending machine?

Yep! You have a 1 in 112 million chance of dying in a vending machine-related accident — probably worth the risk for that bag of chips, though.

FlipCardIcons_Bear-01

Getting attacked by a bear?

Yep! You have a 1 in 2.1 million chance that your encounter with a bear will be… unbearable.

or

FlipCardIcons_murderhornet-09

Getting stung to death by murder hornets?

Nope! You only have a 1 in 2.5 million chance that murder hornets will do you in. And that’s only if you live in Japan. For now.

Getting pulverized by an asteroid?

Nope! You only have a 1 in 1,600,000 chance of the sky falling, Chicken Little.

or

Falling off a cruise ship?

Yep! You have a 1 in 850,000 chance of falling overboard. Bon Voyage!

Getting injured by a toilet?

Yep! You have a 1 in 10,000 chance of a toilet-related injury. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

or

FlipCardIcons_Lightning-16

Being struck by lightning?

Nope! You only have a 1 in 15,300 chance of being struck by lightning. Don’t forget your key and kite!

FlipCardIcons_lefthand-04

Being born left-handed?

Nope! You only have a 1 in 10 chance of being a lefty (and struggling with zippers, and scissors, and can openers…).

or

Getting breast cancer?

Yes. 1 out of every 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Alcohol increases your risk.

How can I lower my risk of breast cancer?

The simple answer is to drink less, but that can be hard to do. Scroll down for a few tips for drinking less.

How can I lower my risk of breast cancer?

The simple answer is to drink less, but that can be hard to do. Scroll down for a few tips for drinking less!

Try a little dry.

Decide not to drink a few days each week. Or take a break from drinking for a week or two to see how you feel physically and emotionally without alcohol. Taking a break can be a good way to start drinking less.

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Go slow.

Sip your drink, don’t slam it. And make your next drink soda, water, or juice. And have something to eat—having food in your belly can slow how quickly your body absorbs the alcohol.

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Keep count.

Being aware of how much you’re drinking can help you drink less. Of course, there’s an app for that! Check the list on our Resources page, or just keep a mental note of what you’re drinking. Want to know more about what a “drink” even is? Check our What’s a Drink? page to find out.

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Get support.

Cutting down on your drinking isn’t always easy. Let your friends know that you’re trying to cut back and that you could use their help. You can even try to drink less together. Yay friends!

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Stick with it.

For most people, it takes several tries to cut down or stop drinking altogether, even if they don’t have a drinking problem. You’ll probably have ups and downs, but that’s okay as long as you keep trying to reach your long-term goal.

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Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. About 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. And we know drinking alcohol increases that risk. But what does this risk really mean if you’re young, healthy, and you enjoy a drink or two with friends? We wanted to know that, too, so we asked young women what they think about the link between alcohol and breast cancer.

What does it mean to you?

Find out more about breast cancer risks.

Lovely young Black woman hugging herself, smiling

Your health is important! The next time you’re pouring a drink, think about what you can do to reduce your risk of breast cancer. Your breasts will thank you for it. And we can help. We’ve got lots of info on what alcohol does to your body, how to reduce your drinking, and how to keep your breasts healthy and happy. Want to learn how to do a breast self-exam? Visit our Resources page. Or check out All About Risk to learn the nitty-gritty about how alcohol affects your body.

And if you have any questions for us or just want to say “Hey!” get in touch. You’ll get a personal response from someone on our research team, not some annoying bot. We’d love to hear from you.