Drinking Coffee Daily Linked To Longer Life For Colon Cancer Patients

BOSTON (CBS) -- Boston cancer researchers have found that drinking coffee every day may improve the survival rate among colon cancer patients.

The study from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute says, for the first time, there's a link between coffee drinking and longer life for colon cancer patients.

Those who drank four or more cups of regular (not decaf) coffee per day saw the most benefit.

Dr. Charles Fuchs, the director of the gastrointestinal cancer center at Dana Farber, told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Diane Stern that the patients who regularly consumed coffee had a better result.

"With increasing amounts of regular consumption, there was an increasing improvement in patient outcome," he said.

There have been a number of studies showing that regular coffee drinkers experience a lower risk of Type 2 Diabetes.

"We weren't really able to look beyond four cups per day, but individuals who consumed four cups per day clearly did have the greatest benefit," Fuchs said.

Fuchs said those who don't like coffee can still protect themselves against colon cancer by avoiding obesity, exercising regularly and staying away from a high-carb diet.

Listen to the interview: