If you’re drinking a cup or two of coffee every day, you’re certainly not alone. According to estimates from the NIH National Library of Medicine, over two billion cups of coffee are consumed each day around the world, with an average in the U.S. of two to three cups a day.
It’s important to be aware of the research that’s been done (and that’s still in progress) to determine if there are any connections between coffee consumption and cancer, and what effects caffeine can have on your body. We’re here to shed some light on the current data available on caffeine and cancer.
Is it safe to drink coffee if you have cancer?
While drinking coffee has been linked in some studies to a decreased risk of cancer, the data is often contradictory. There’s also research, according to the American Cancer Society, that coffee drinking is not a direct cause of breast, pancreas, and prostate cancer, and may reduce the risk of uterine endometrium and liver cancers.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and are working through your treatment options with your care team, let them know that you drink coffee on a regular basis and ask them for their opinion on the ingredients.
What about caffeine?
Your doctor might tell you to cut back on the coffee – and the caffeine – for a variety of reasons. First, caffeine can make it more difficult to sleep, from falling asleep to staying asleep. It can keep you awake, cause heart palpitations, and raise your blood pressure.
Caffeine is also classified as a diuretic, which increases blood flow to your kidneys and which might lead you to increased urination and unnecessary trips to the toilet. Regardless of if you’re a coffee drinker or not, make sure to drink plenty of water each day.
Coffee can contain a chemical called acrylamide that’s formed during the roasting process. Your doctor may want you to also stay away or cut back from foods that contain acrylamide.
According to the FDA, most adults can consume 400 mg of caffeine a day without serious side effects, but this number may differ based on your own health and conditions. If you have any concerns surrounding caffeine consumption and treatment, be sure to bring your questions to your doctor.
Connect with an Outcomes4Me oncology nurse practitioner at no charge through the Outcomes4Me app, using the “Ask Outcomes4Me” button.
