Daily drinking can increase breast cancer risk, new report says

Even small portions can increase risk

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new report shows a link between daily drinking and breast cancer.

According to the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, a small glass of wine or 8 ounces of beer a day may increase the risk for breast cancer by 5 percent in premenopausal women, the risk doubling for postmenopausal women.

"I know a lot of people that finish their day with a glass of wine with dinner so I wouldn't think of it as an immediate health risk," said Alayna Summanen,

So how does alcohol link to breast cancer? Researchers say alcohol can cause mutations in DNA leading to cancer or create elevated levels of estrogen increasing the risk factor.

To lower your risk doctors recommend you don't drink alcohol, exercise and maintain a healthy weight. Even breastfeeding can help decrease the risk of breast cancer.

Researchers studied more than 80,000 cases a year and found that 33 percent of U.S. breast cancer cases could be prevented if women did not drink, maintained a healthy weight and remain physically active.

"I think you have to take every study or report with a grain of salt,” said Summanen. “There's going to be a report about everything out there, so I think it's important to consider all of it and decide what's best in your daily life."