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Because moderate alcohol consumption is known to modestly increase the risk for breast cancer, women who have been treated for this common malignancy often ask their clinician if it is safe to consume alcoholic beverages. Between 1988 and 2008, 23,000 women with incident breast cancer (age range at diagnosis, 20–79) were enrolled in a survivorship cohort. Information on prediagnosis alcohol intake was collected from all women; postdiagnosis intake information was available for 4881 women. During a median 11.3 years of follow-up, 7780 deaths were observed, including 3484 and 1531 caused by breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, respectively. “Drinks” were defined as 12 oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine, or 1.5 oz. of spirits.
For prediagnosis alc…