Study shows that breast cancer recurrence is diminished among patients who received tamoxifen and drank coffee daily
Previous research from Lund University has shown a correlation between coffee consumption and a decreased risk of developing certain types of breast cancer. Now researchers found that drinking coffee daily while taking tamoxifen could reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence.
For the study, a group of breast cancer patients from southern Sweden were monitored by a Lund University team for an average of 5 years. Approximately 300 of the more than 600 total study participants received tamoxifen. Researchers discovered that patients who took tamoxifen and drank 2 or more cups of coffee everyday had less than half the rate of cancer recurrence when compared with those who took the drug and drank 1 cup of coffee or less.
More research is needed, according to the research team. Maria Simonsson, doctoral student in oncology at Lund University, says, “One theory we are working with is that coffee ‘activates’ tamoxifen and makes it more efficient.”
Source: Lund University.