In people with certain genetic variants well done meat might increase the risk of developing bladder cancer according to a large study by The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The level of doneness is believed to have an impact on cancer risk, as meat cooked at high temperatures generates heterocyclic amines (HCAs) that can cause cancer. Further studies on the topic are needed to confirm the preliminary results.

Just in time for the festive season, champagne is suggested as a heart healthy drink. By increasing the availability of nitric oxide, champagne can improve blood flow and thus decrease blood pressure, the researchers claim. The substance that produces this effect is polyphenols, the same substance that has given wine a heart-healthy rumour. Regardless of the positive effects, the suggested two glasses of champagne a day might have a detrimental effect on the body that can overshadow any potential positive effect. Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption (over three drinks a week), increases the risk of breast cancer reoccurrence according to another study. Until larger studies can backup the claim that heavy drinking (14 glasses of champagnea week) is beneficial for our health, alcohol should not be consumed on regular basis or in large quantities.

A new study from China, involving 5000 breast cancer survivors, suggests a complete turnaround in soy recommendations for breast cancer survivors. As soy contains estrogen-like substances (isoflavones) and studies have shown that estrogen could promote tumor development, breast cancer survivors have been recommended to not use soy products. The new study shows that women including soy in their diet had 29 percent lower risk of dying, and a 32 percent decreased risk of breast cancer recurrence. The risk was not dose dependent and more than 11 grams of soy a day did not lower the risk further. The lead author of the study, Dr. Xiao Ou Shu, M.D., Ph.D., says that other components might have affected the results and that it is to early to say whether soy lowers the risk of breast cancer. The American institute for Cancer Research (AICR) recomemndations remain unchanged for now:
‘Up to two to three servings per day is considered safe but as a precaution, women receiving anti-estrogen treatments should reduce soy foods and steer clear of isoflavone supplements’

While we all should know by now that smoking increases the risk of mouth cancer, by nine times, dental researchers say now that alcohol containing mouthwashes can also cause harm.
They claim that drinking alcohol and the use of mouthwash containing more than 20% alcohol increases the risk of oral cancer almost as much as smoking. A closer look at review literature (comparison of studies in that field), gave me no supporting evidence. Abuse of alcohol combined with smoking can enhance cancer risk, but ethanol itself is not carcinogenic (cancer-causing). There is no evidence that mouthwashes with alcohol increases cancer risk. Alcoholic beverages and smoking both increases cancer risk, both cancer of the mouth and other cancer types.