Swedish researchers found that drinking two cups of coffee daily may cut the risk of liver cancer by 43% but a leading Singapore oncologist, Dr Ang Peng Tiam, felt the study is too simplistic and had no conclusive clinical evidence on the coffee’s benefits.
“Why in the liver? Why not in the pancreas or in the stomach? It is for these reasons that sometimes further research needs to be done. Until there is a good prospective trial that shows the preventive benefit of coffee, I won’t be taking coffee!” Said Dr Ang.
Over the years, many dietary studies have surfaced from time to time. Some have claimed that soy can prevent breast cancer and others say broccoli can lower cancer risks but doctors say none of these claims have conclusive clinical evidence. “While cancer is a very serious disease, because we now understand more about it, we can play a part in terms of preventing it, detecting it early and getting the knowledge of advances in cancer treatment,” says Dr Ang.
It is estimated that one in three people will have an episode of cancer in their lifetime, and one in four will die from the disease.
Dr Ang feels the best prevention against cancer is to lead a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly and to try to stay stress free.
