When it comes to personal triumphs and certainly, overcoming cancer, milestones matter more than many realize. Iconic music star Sir Elton John has a lot to be proud of, and celebrate, as he hits 30 years of sobriety from drugs and alcohol.
John, 73, has been open about his addiction to drugs and alcohol throughout his career, and his decision to get sober in 1990. Well, the Rocketman certainly has an impressive milestone to celebrate. On Instagram, he announced that July 30th, 2020 marks his 30 year sober anniversary, and shared photos of cards, a cake, and his recovery chip. In the post, he thanks his friends, family, and fans for their overwhelming support during his journey, saying that he would not be here if he hadn’t finally asked for help in the fighting his addiction.
Read MoreIn addition to his battle with sobriety, John has also had other triumphs to celebrate. In 2017, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent surgery for treatment. That surgery was successful, but John has been open about his health scares and the side effects following his prostate cancer surgery. Ten days after the procedure, he contracted a fever and infection which turned out to be a rare complication from surgery. In December 2019, he told Graham Norton that he still hadn't regained bladder control as a result from his cancer treatment, which forced him to wear a diaper on stage while performing in Las Vegas in 2017.
Despite his struggles, John’s determination in overcoming cancer and working through his addiction are truly amazing.
Alcohol’s Link to Cancer
In cancer, studies have suggested an excessive intake of alcohol has been linked to being pre-disposed to certain cancers including pancreatic, liver, and colon. While it’s unclear exactly the amount of alcohol one needs to consume in order to be pre-disposed, experts stress the importance of moderation when imbibing. Plus, gender plays a role in the amount of alcohol you consume as well.
According to Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal surgeon at Weill Cornell Medical Center, she suspects that women who drink over half a glass, or a full glass, a day of wine may experience an impact on their health, while men can drink two glasses of wine before they start seeing health effects. However, Dr. Yeo admits that data is mixed when it comes to dietary trends’ links to cancer.
Dr. Heather Yeo explains how excessive alcohol consumption may be linked to cancer
Studies have also suggested that alcohol intake can be directly linked to breast cancer. An extensive analysis of studies looking at lifestyle factors associated with breast cancer risk concluded that women who drank more than 45 grams of alcohol per day (about three drinks) had one and a half times more risk of developing breast cancer than non-drinkers.
“One of the things that we know, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology has recently come out with a statement to this effect, is that actually, alcohol does increase the risk of breast cancer,” says Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “It doesn’t dramatically increase the risk of breast cancer, but with every drink, there is a linear response. What that means is each drink increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer. So binge drinking, it’s not good for anybody.”
When it comes to determining the amount of alcohol one should enjoy a week, that can largely depend on the person. However, Dr. Comen says that four drinks a week is probably the limit women should be aiming for. Above all, binge drinking puts women most at risk.
Dr. Elizabeth Comen explains alcohol’s link to breast cancer
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
