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A new study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston has revealed that drinking four or more cups of caffeinated coffee daily, or about 460 milligrams of caffeine, may significantly reduce the chances of recurrence of colon cancer in patients who were diagnosed with stage III of the disease. The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Colon cancer patients have about a 35% chance of the cancer coming back after treatment. Most cases of recurrence happens within five years of treatment. The study said, "Those who drank two to three cups of coffee daily experienced a more modest benefit, while little protection was associated with one cup or less. These patients were 42% less likely to have their cancer return than non-coffee drinkers, and were 33% less likely to die from cancer or any other cause."
The research team found the lowered risks of recurrence and death were specifically tied to the caffeine in coffee rather than other coffee components. Lead author Charles Fuchs, director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber, said, "We found that coffee drinkers had a lower risk of the cancer coming back and a significantly greater survival and chance of a cure. If you are a coffee drinker and are being treated for colon cancer, don't stop. But if you're not a coffee drinker and wondering whether to start, you should first discuss it with your physician."
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