Br J Cancer: A few cups of coffee or tea a day can improve the survival rate of breast cancer patients

Coffee and tea are among the most widely consumed beverages in the world.
It contains many biologically active compounds, including large amounts of caffeine and polyphenols.
Previous reports have shown that the intake of coffee and caffeine has beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity, inflammation and antioxidant activity, which also reveals that it may contribute tothe prognosis of breast cancer .

And because of tea's effect on sex hormone levels, antioxidant properties, and its role in improving insulin sensitivity, tea is also considered to have anti-cancer properties.
However, current epidemiological studies evaluating the correlation between coffee and tea intake and breast cancer mortality are still limited.

In this prospective cohort study, researchers aimed to explore the related effects of drinking coffee and tea after diagnosis on breast cancer specificity and all-cause mortality in breast cancer patients.

The researchers analyzed 8900 stage I-III breast cancer patients identified in the NHS (Nurse Health Study) from 1980 to 2010 and the NHSII study from 1991 to 2011.
After diagnosis, the coffee and tea intake after diagnosis was evaluated through a valid food frequency questionnaire every 4 years.

During the 30-year follow-up, the researchers recorded a total of 1,054 breast cancer-specific deaths and 2,501 total deaths.
The results showed that increased coffee intake after diagnosis was associated with a decrease in breast cancer-specific mortality: compared to non-drinkers, drinking more than 3 cups of coffee a day corresponds to a 25% reduction in the risk of death.

Patient's total coffee and total tea consumption

Researchers also observed that coffee intake was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality: Compared with non-drinkers, patients who drank 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day had a 24% lower risk (HR = 0.
76, 95% CI = 0.

All in all, the results of the study revealed that higher post-diagnosis coffee intake is associated with better overall breast cancer survival rates.
The increase in tea consumption after diagnosis may also be related to the improvement of the patient's overall survival .