Drinking alcohol increases the risk of at least 7 types of cancer. For people being treated for cancer, regularly consuming a few beers or cocktails also has other potentially harmful consequences, including making their treatments less effective. And for longer-term cancer survivors, there is some evidence that regular alcohol use may increase the chances of their cancer returning.

But a study suggests that many people being treated for cancer and longer-term cancer survivors report regularly drinking alcohol–many moderately, but some also heavily and often. Male long-term survivors and younger people being treated for cancer were among those who were particularly likely to be frequent or heavy drinkers. Overall, of patients who were actively undergoing treatment for cancer, 75% drank alcohol, often heavily.