Dear Caz,

We’re sorry to hear about your bowel cancer diagnosis. Our health team asked us to post this, which I hope will help answer your question:

At the moment, it isn’t clear whether there is a link between coffee and bowel cancer. While the study reported in the headlines showed a reduced risk of bowel cancer from drinking coffee, many other studies have not found a link. The recent study also had some flaws – for example it asked people questions about their previous lifestyle habits after they had been recently diagnosed with cancer, when it can be difficult to remember back especially if some things have changed over time. We’ll need more research to see if there is any real link between coffee and bowel cancer.”

While bowel cancer screening works well in finding cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful, sadly it can’t help everyone who takes part. Some bowel cancers can develop in-between screening tests, and it’s also possible for the test to miss a cancer. So we recommend people visit their GP if they notice any unusual or persistent changes to their body, whatever their screening history.

Kind regards,

Kirsty

Dear Caz,

We’re sorry to hear about your bowel cancer diagnosis. Our health team asked us to post this, which I hope will help answer your question:

At the moment, it isn’t clear whether there is a link between coffee and bowel cancer. While the study reported in the headlines showed a reduced risk of bowel cancer from drinking coffee, many other studies have not found a link. The recent study also had some flaws – for example it asked people questions about their previous lifestyle habits after they had been recently diagnosed with cancer, when it can be difficult to remember back especially if some things have changed over time. We’ll need more research to see if there is any real link between coffee and bowel cancer.”

While bowel cancer screening works well in finding cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful, sadly it can’t help everyone who takes part. Some bowel cancers can develop in-between screening tests, and it’s also possible for the test to miss a cancer. So we recommend people visit their GP if they notice any unusual or persistent changes to their body, whatever their screening history.

Kind regards,

Kirsty