Research co-authored by Dr. Richard Goldberg, professor emeritus and former director of the West Virginia University Cancer Institute, shows that advanced colorectal cancer patients who consume four or more cups of coffee a day are more likely to live longer than those who drink less. (WVU Photo/Jennifer Shephard)
Advanced colorectal cancer patients who consume four or more cups of coffee a day are more likely to live longer than those who drink less, according to freshly-brewed research co-authored by a West Virginia University doctor. Richard Goldberg, professor emeritus and former director of the WVU Cancer Institute, was part of a team that linked increased coffee consumption to a decreased risk of cancer progression and death in 1,171 patients in the United States and Canada.
Quotes
“Patients who drank more coffee, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, had a longer progression-free survival rate. This means that for patients with advanced colorectal cancer, it took longer for the tumors to get worse if they drank more coffee.”
“It’s not caffeine that’s causing the benefit. Coffee is a complicated series of chemicals. There are many natural extracts that have activity against cancer. We don’t know exactly what is in coffee that may have these effects but there are many candidate compounds that have been identified.”
“It doesn’t seem to matter whether you buy Starbucks or use instant. The value is present regardless of the way the coffee is brewed or processed.”
“People are looking for everything they can do to extend their life. Taking the treatments that their healthcare team recommends and drinking some coffee while they're getting it seems like a good idea. Based on this study and others, enjoy your coffee. It may help you.” — Richard Goldberg, professor emeritus and former director of the WVU Cancer Institute and deputy chair of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
Additional Resources:
JAMA Article: Association of Coffee Intake With Survival in Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
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