(DailyMeal) - Women with breast cancer can have a glass of wine a day without fear of damaging their chances of beating the disease, claim researchers.

In fact, they may improve their overall chance of survival because modest consumption of alcohol cuts the risk of dying from heart disease.

A new U.S. study could help women tackle the dilemma of whether they can safely drink after a diagnosis of breast cancer. 

Previous research has blamed alcohol for at least 13,000 out of almost 300,000 cases of cancer diagnosed each year in the UK, including breast, mouth, oesophagus and bowel.

It is estimated that five per cent of breast cancers in women are caused by drinking.

Studies show a couple of drinks a day raise the chances of developing breast cancer by a fifth, say experts.

It is unclear how drinking promotes breast cancer but it may work by raising levels of the sex hormone oestrogen in the body.