Coffee Drinking May Help Prevent Recurrence Of Colon Cancer, Study Finds

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology suggests that coffee intake may be beneficial in reducing the rates of cancer recurrence and death in patients with advanced or stage III colon cancer.

HealthDay reports that according to researchers, though findings from the study suggest an association between lower cancer recurrence rates and higher coffee intake, researchers said that it's premature to advise patients to start drinking a lot of coffee to prevent the return of colon cancer.

"There is already an abundance of evidence that diet and lifestyle can have a great deal of positive impact in terms of reducing the risk for developing colon cancer," explains study lead author Dr. Charles Fuchs.

To study the effects of coffee (or caffeine) on colon cancer, the research team chose 953 patients with stage III colon cancer. The patients reportedly took coffee, decaffeinated coffee and nonherbal tea while the researchers examined their influence on cancer recurrence. All participants were undergoing postsurgery chemotherapy at that time.

For seven years, cancer recurrence and death rates were then observed.

Of the participants, there was a recorded cancer recurrence in 329 people, and 288 of them died. Thirty-six people, who didn't have a diagnosis of cancer recurrence, also died during the study period.

According to ScienceDaily, the study revealed that the patients who had surgery and chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer got the biggest benefits from drinking four or more cups of coffee a day (approximately 460 milligrams of caffeine).

In comparison to stage III cancer patients, who didn't drink coffee, those who consumed four or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day had 42 percent lower risk of cancer recurrence or deaths. Drinking less than four cups (two to three) of coffee daily also showed benefits, albeit at a lesser degree, while little protection was associated with one cup or none at all.

"We found that coffee drinkers had a lower risk of the cancer coming back and a significantly greater survival and chance of a cure," Fuchs said. 

Fuchs noted that most recurrences happen within five years of treatment.

Though the results are encouraging, the researchers still consider it premature to tell people to drink coffee. More results have to be confirmed in other studies, they say.

"If you are a coffee drinker and are being treated for colon cancer, don't stop," Fuchs said. "But if you're not a coffee drinker and wondering whether to start, you should first discuss it with your physician."