A new study shows that drinking alcohol boosts a woman's chance of having a recurrence of breast cancer.

Researchers found that even a few glasses of wine or cocktails a week may increase the cancer risk by up to 34 percent.

The new study also shows breast cancer survivors who drink heavily have a 51 percent increased risk of dying. It also shows the risk is the same no matter what type of alcohol a woman drinks.

Researchers at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif. said cutting back on drinking is one of the easiest ways women can help prevent a recurrence.

"This is important news for clinicians because patients often ask how they can personally reduce their risk after successful treatment," commented Jeffrey M. Peppercorn, MD, MPH, of Duke University, who was not involved in the study.

"If they want to do everything they can personally do, then lowering alcohol consumption is part of that," he said.

Source: Med Page Today