Tamoxifen And Coffee Consumption May Help Prevent Return Of Breast Cancer
"Drinking coffee could decrease the risk of breast cancer recurring in
patients taking the widely used drug Tamoxifen, a study at Lund
University in Sweden has found. Patients who took the pill, along with
two or more cups of coffee daily, reported less than half the rate of
cancer recurrence, compared with their non-coffee drinking,
Tamoxifen-taking counterparts.
The team followed over 600 breast cancer patients from southern Sweden
for an average of five years. Approximately 300 took Tamoxifen. The
drug, a common hormone therapy after breast cancer surgery, reduces the
risk of new tumours by blocking oestrogen receptors. How coffee
interacts with the treatment, however, isn't immediately known.
"One theory we are working with is that coffee 'activates' Tamoxifen and
makes it more efficient", says Maria Simonsson, doctoral student in
Oncology at Lund University.
The Lund University researchers have previously linked coffee
consumption to a decreased risk of developing certain types of breast
cancer. Caffeine has also been shown to hamper the growth of cancer
cells. The latest observational study involving coffee's role in cancer
prevention and treatment underlines the need for more research,
according to the team.
"We would like to know more about how lifestyle can interact with breast
cancer treatment", says Helena Jernström, Associate Professor of
Experimental Oncology at Lund University.
Original article posted on Medical News Today."
No comments:
Post a Comment