People who stop drinking alcohol lower their chances of head and neck cancers, according to researchers in Canada.

Dr. Jurgen Rehm of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health said previous research has tied alcohol to an increased risk for cancer of the esophagus, larynx and mouth.

But his new research found that the risk of esophageal cancer, for instance, dropped rapidly two years after people stop drinking.

After more than 20 years of alcohol cessation, the risks for other types of cancer were similar to those seen in people who never drank alcohol.

A news release on the study did not offer information on how common head and neck cancers are.

"Alcohol cessation has very similar effects on risk for head and neck cancers as smoking cessation has on lung cancer," Rehm said.

Rehm said that more research is needed to determine the effect alcohol has on other types of cancer.