Good health

YOU report that a “daily drink raises women’s cancer risk” (February 25). A statistical correlation cannot prove causality. No competent scientist would make such a claim and it is irresponsible of Cancer Research UK to do so.

Other factors need to be excluded and the mechanism understood. Women who drink probably tend to have unhealthy lifestyles which may introduce other risk factors.

You do not mention that cancer of the aerodigestive tract is confined to smokers, nor that increased alcohol consumption is associated with decreased risk of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, thyroid and renal cell cancer.

So drink up (within reason) and ignore media scare stories.

Michael Job

Rossnagrena

Glengarriff

Co Cork