Often seen as a necessary but guilty pleasure, a new study of 1,171 colorectal cancer patients found that patients who reported drinking 2-3 cups of coffee a day lived longer and had a decreased risk of cancer progression.
What is even more surprising is that this effect scaled. Patients who drank 4 cups of coffee, saw even more profound health effects. And for patients who prefer decaf, the results were similar for patients who drank caffeinated and decaf coffees.
This hasn’t been the first time that coffee has found itself on the bright side of oncology news. In 2016, scientists for the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found that coffee could no longer be labeled as possibly carcinogenic. In 2015, the National Library of Medicine released a study suggesting coffee reduced the risk of liver cancer and long term liver disease.
This is of course only one study, and some medical professionals suggest that the relation might be incidental, that simply patients who suffer worse from colon cancer symptoms would be less likely to drink coffee. Others point out that while antioxidants have been pointed out to be beneficial for cancer patients, the direct relation between coffee and cancer prevention or support has yet to be proven.
Colon cancer has been on the news with the sad passing of Chadwick Boseman at only the age of 43, a pioneer for african american actors and the star of Black Panther. His passing has increased the awareness of a disease that is increasingly affecting young people.
Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of death for young Americans, with 10% of new colon cancer patients projected to be under 50 by the year 2030. Symptoms of colon cancer include a change in bowel movements, rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, and abdominal pain. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms please consult a medical professional right away.
